Trump, UPS, FedEx and USPS say they have already fought illegal drug shipments

(Reuters) – FedEx Corp (FDX.N), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) and the US Postal Service said Friday that they were already working to prevent traffickers from using their services after US President Donald Trump ordered delivery companies to refuse packages of fentanyl, a powerful painkiller from China.

Trump told these shippers and online retailer Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN.O) to refuse deliveries of synthetic opioid from China, which announced Friday new retaliatory tariffs on a strip of US products.

"I order all carriers, including Fed Ex, Amazon, UPS and the Post, to search for and refuse all fentanyl shipments from China (or elsewhere!)," Trump said on Twitter.

"President Xi said it would stop – it is not," he tweeted, referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin and contributes to the country's deadliest drug crisis.

FedEx, UPS and Amazon shares each lost at least 3% after the latest wave of the US-China trade war drove down the US stock market.

"We are working closely with all law enforcement and regulatory authorities to monitor banned substances," UPS said.

His rival, FedEx, said in a statement that he "had already put in place numerous security measures to prevent the use of our networks for illegal purposes."

Private distribution companies such as UPS and FedEx are tracking packages electronically, which has discouraged some drug traffickers from exploiting USPS tracking system deficiencies.

"The most common distribution support is via the US postal service," the US Treasury said Wednesday in a statement announcing sanctions against three Chinese nationals accused of fentanyl trafficking.

Drug traffickers are targeting US ports of entry and international mail centers, where package and vehicle inspections are limited due to lack of personnel and other constraints, experts and officials said.

"The US Postal Service is working hard to enforce the provisions of the STOP Act to prevent dangerous drugs from entering the United States from China and other countries," said the 39; USPS in a statement, referring to the Prevention of Human Trafficking and Overdose Act promulgated by the US Congress in 2018.

This legislation required the postal service to receive advance electronic data (AED) – including the names and addresses of senders and consignees, the contents of the package and other information – on all shipments from China to the United States. end of 2018 and all countries by the end of 2020..

China's compliance with the STOP regulations has been delayed and the USPS and CBP have informed the Chinese postal operator that any shipment to the US without an AED could be moment, said the carrier.

At the same time, USPS and its law enforcement agency, the Postal Inspection Service, continue to work with government and law enforcement agencies to combat illicit drug trafficking, such as the fentanyl, said USPS.

Amazon has not responded to a request for comment.