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China has taken concrete steps to crack down on synthetic opioid exports to the United States, officials in Congress said Thursday.
US officials said China had banned 175 ingredients in fentanyl and its analogues, including 32 last week, and that the United States planned to open a drug enforcement office in Guangzhou next year. to strengthen international cooperation.
US officials also said their agencies were forming foreign partners to disable cryptocurrency transactions that allow traffickers to sell their products in the darker corners of the Internet.
"Is there a lot more to do? No doubt, but I think we're making progress, "said Kirsten D. Madison, Assistant Secretary of Narcotics at the State Department, before a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on global health.
According to federal data, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids resulted in a 10% increase in drug overdose deaths, and President Trump personally urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to crack down on dishonest manufacturers.
Skeptical members of the House said China should speed things up.
Republican New Jersey Republican and Subcommittee President Chris Smith said the Chinese government is cracking down on political dissent, trade unions and social media, but appears to be taking a step-by-step approach to curbing opioid manufacturers. He also highlighted Chinese officials who attribute US demand to producers within their borders.
"Are they really working with us?" Said Mr. Smith.
Paul J. Knierim, DEA's deputy operations chief, said that Chinese cooperation has developed considerably in recent years, although he is ready to explore the idea of Mr. Smith to enforce the Magnitsky law, which allows the United States to punish the world, against foreign officials who are unaware of or even benefiting from the export of drugs.
Joseph D. Coronato, attorney for Ocean County, New Jersey, said that anything the federal authorities could do to improve coordination with China and other countries would be appreciated. He has seen a dramatic increase in overdose deaths due to what he calls the "synthetic storm."
He urged federal agencies to expand their footprint around the world, so that drugs are intercepted before they reach the doors of their neighborhoods.
The administration officials said that Congress can act now by securing the postal system against the influx of fentanyl, as the tiny powders wrapped in packaging are harder to detect than the malicious ships arriving at the port or mules.
"The mail is a big challenge because it is so diffuse," Madison said. "This is not the traditional way of trafficking or selling drugs."
The House passed an invoice this year, demanding that the US Postal Service request advanced electronic data on 70% of foreign packets by the end of the year, and all packets by 2021.
Customs officials claim that the data is an essential tool for targeting packages for further examination and for removing the powerful fentanyl from overseas, especially China.
GOP leaders said Thursday that the Senate will vote on its own opioid legislation next week. The package includes the STOP law, which reflects the House's effort to obtain advanced data on foreign packages.
"It's a simple, common-sense reform and, frankly, long overdue," said Thursday Senator Rob Portman, Ohio Republican and main sponsor.
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