U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba, has launched the District of New Jersey’s Fentanyl Precursor Interception Strike Force. This new initiative aims to address the escalating opioid crisis by targeting overseas chemical manufacturers, particularly those in China. These manufacturers have been identified as suppliers of chemical precursors used by Mexican cartels to produce fentanyl.
Habba stated, "I am establishing this Strike Force to cut off the supply of chemical precursors that drug cartels rely on to manufacture deadly fentanyl. The District of New Jersey will harness its significant experience in pursuing those who contribute to the opioid crisis, to break apart every link in the fentanyl supply chain. The mission of the Strike Force is to stop this deadly poison from entering our borders, and to bring to justice the overseas chemical manufacturers that fuel the cartels."
Cheryl Ortiz, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New Jersey Field Division, supported the initiative, noting, "As we know, fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing the United States, which claimed the lives of over 106,000 Americans in 2023. We welcome United States Attorney Habba’s creation of the District of New Jersey’s Fentanyl Precursor Interception (FPI) Strike Force and look forward to working with her and our law enforcement partners in battling this opioid epidemic. Any chance at stopping the flow of these precursor chemicals from reaching our communities helps save lives."
The production of fentanyl starts with raw chemical precursors, primarily manufactured and distributed by Chinese companies. Once shipped globally, these precursors are trafficked to Mexico, where drug cartels use them to create fentanyl. The finished product is then smuggled into the United States and distributed across various communities.
The influx of fentanyl has led to a public health crisis in the United States, severely impacting American families and increasing violence in communities. This new strike force, in coordination with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will focus on reducing the entry of fentanyl into the country to ensure community safety.