Bill Eyes Sanctioning Chinese Firms for Role in Nitazene Production
Three Republican senators introduced a bill Oct. 30 that would allow the president to sanction Chinese entities that manufacture, distribute or finance the production of nitazene precursor chemicals.
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The lawmakers are concerned that China could provide the precursors to Mexican cartels, which could then turn the chemicals into nitazene and sell the potent synthetic opioid in the U.S. “Nitazenes could become the next fentanyl crisis if not stopped,” said Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., who introduced the Nitazene Sanctions Act with Sens. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.
The bill, which was referred to the Senate Banking Committee, would require a report on several topics, including the role of Chinese financial institutions in supporting nitazene precursor production.