The Department of the Treasury Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the targeting of 28 individuals involved in the production and distribution of illegal drug substances. This includes a Chinese network responsible for mass fentanyl production. The press release was made in conjunction with recent indictments by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of China-based illicit drug companies.

According to the press release, the targeted individuals and entities are involved in international trafficking of xylazine and "nitazenes," which are highly potent and often mixed with illicit fentanyl. These substances have contributed to the thousands of American lives lost each year due to the illicit drug trade.

Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo commented on the action, saying, "Treasury is taking sweeping action with our colleagues in law enforcement to expose and disrupt a network responsible for manufacturing and distributing illicit drugs, including fentanyl and other substances that take thousands of American lives each year."

This announcement aligns with the recent indictments by the DOJ of China-based drug companies in Florida. The Treasury's OFAC, along with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, collaborated to target these drug companies.

The Department of the Treasury has been increasing its financial sanctions against the illicit fentanyl supply chain. This includes recent measures against facilitators based in China and Mexico involved in counterfeit pill production.

Targeting of the Chinese network responsible for mass fentanyl production is another step in the ongoing efforts to combat the global threat posed by the illicit drug trade.