The sanctions were directed at seven entities and six people based in China, as well as one entity and three people based in Mexico, according to a statement from the US Treasury Department on Tuesday. These targets are directly or indirectly involved in the sale of pill press machines and other equipment used to impress counterfeit trade markings onto illicitly produced pills, often laced with fentanyl, which are frequently destined for US markets, the department said.
One of the Chinese companies targeted is pill press supplier Youli Technology Development, which Treasury said had shipped pill press machinery to individuals in the United States involved in the production of counterfeit pills. Officials also accused Chinese company Yason General Machinery of working with a Mexican supplier and contact who previously provided pill equipment to a person linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.