The cartels can buy the chemicals to make fentanyl anywhere in the world, not just China. The same with pill-pressing equipment.
“...not just China.”
The largest producer of medicine in the world, to include dope, is the US. Number 2 is China. in 2021 the US produced $516,664,631,098 in medicine production of all types. China, the number 2 maker produced $171,300,816,183 again of all types. And the US imports 23.6% of our total from China.
Today, OFAC designated Chinese pill press supplier Youli Technology Development Co., Ltd. (尤里科技发展有限公司) (Youli) along with three Youli-affiliated Chinese nationals, Guo Chunyan (郭春艳), Guo Yunnian (郭运年), and Guo Ruiguang (郭瑞光), all located in Huizhou, China. Youli has shipped pill press machinery to individuals in the United States involved in the manufacture of counterfeit pills. Youli ships the machinery using techniques intended to evade law enforcement scrutiny. In addition, Youli has shipped scheduled pharmaceuticals to the United States for counterfeit pill manufacturing. Guo Chunyan and Guo Yunnian have supplied pill presses and dies to drug traffickers operating in the United States, including those involved with fentanyl-laced pills production.
OFAC designated Youli, Guo Chunyan, and Guo Yunnian pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. OFAC designated Guo Ruiguang pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Youli.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1507
So they are the second largest drug seller in the world and are active in evading law enforcement on the selling of presses to the US or whoever else has cash in hand and are using 4 different companies to build them in China.
wy69