US Sanctions Chinese Firms Over Pill-Pressing Machines
- Companies ship pill-presses through the US to Mexico
- Fake drugs often contain lethal doses of fentanyl, US says
Fentanyl-laced fake oxycodone pills
Source: US Attorneys Office for Utah/APThis article is for subscribers only.
The US accused several Chinese companies of shipping machines that make counterfeit pills to the US and Mexico, and hit more than a dozen entities with sanctions as it looks to crack down on a trade officials say is contributing to the opioid crisis.
The sanctions were directed at companies and individuals that produce, sell and transport so-called pill presses, which are used to make illegal drugs look like legitimate pharmaceuticals, the US Treasury Department said in a statement. Officials said the counterfeit pills are often laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, and frequently sent to the US.