John Cassara, a former Special Agent detailed to the Department of Treasury’s Office of Terrorism Finance and Financial Intelligence, expressed skepticism over the efficacy of recommendations made by the Select Committee in curtailing the flow of fentanyl from China. He suggested that instead, the U.S. government should adopt a comprehensive approach to tackle all aspects of what he referred to as the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) "criminality," in collaboration with global law enforcement agencies. Cassara communicated his views to the Federal Newswire on April 24, responding to a report titled "The CCP's Role in the Fentanyl Crisis," published by the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the CCP (Select Committee) on April 16.
"I do not believe the recommendations outlined by the Select Committee will impede the flow of fentanyl from China," said Cassara. "We are making a huge mistake examining the fentanyl issue in isolation. Fentanyl is just one facet of CCP's criminality. As such, we need an all-encompassing and robust U.S. law enforcement approach - acting in concert with law enforcement around the world - that targets international Chinese/CCP criminality and money laundering."
According to the Select Committee's report, it documented its investigation into CCP's involvement in the fentanyl crisis. The investigative process included analyzing Chinese government documents, engaging in undercover communications with Chinese drug trafficking companies, and consulting with public and private sector experts. The committee concluded that CCP facilitates manufacturing and export of fentanyl precursor chemicals, which are subsequently trafficked into U.S. via Mexican cartels, resulting in an average death toll exceeding 200 Americans daily.
The report further highlighted that CCP supports China's fentanyl industry through various mechanisms including subsidizing manufacturing and sale of fentanyl precursors via tax rebates, awarding monetary grants to firms that traffic fentanyl precursors openly, and permitting open sale of these precursors along with other illicit materials on China's heavily monitored internet. While censoring content related to domestic drug sales, it refrains from censoring export-focused narcotics content. The report asserts that CCP strategically and economically benefits from this crisis while causing devastation for Americans.
The Select Committee proposed five recommendations for U.S. government action against this crisis. These include establishing a Joint Task Force – Counter Opioids (JTF-CO) focusing on non-military elements of state power to target weak points in the global illicit fentanyl supply chain, providing law enforcement and intelligence officials with necessary tools and resources, strengthening U.S. sanctions authorities, enacting trade and customs enforcement measures to restrict fentanyl trafficking, and closing regulatory and enforcement gaps exploited by illicit Chinese actors.
Cassara's career spans 26 years in federal government intelligence and law enforcement communities, as per his website. He has testified before Congressional committees six times on issues related to money laundering and transnational crime. Cassara is also the author of several books, including "Money Laundering and Illicit Financial Flows: Following the Money and Value Trails."
