Two executives from a Chinese chemical company were acquitted by a Manhattan jury of conspiring to ship precursor chemicals related to fentanyl but were found guilty on associated charges. Hubei Amarvel Biotech's Qingzhao Wang and Yiyi Chen were declared not guilty of the main charge, yet were convicted of conspiracy to import a fentanyl precursor chemical and conspiracy to launder money.
The 2023 indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice against Wang and Chen was lauded as a significant move in combating fentanyl, a highly addictive painkiller. This marked the first instance of U.S. authorities pursuing charges against Chinese company executives regarding fentanyl and its derivatives.
Following the verdict, David Mou, Wang's attorney, stated that his client never intended to produce the drug, emphasizing that his chemicals were never used to make fentanyl. Chen's legal representative did not immediately respond to inquiries. Sentencing for Wang and Chen is set for May 29 and June 5, respectively.
Allegations by prosecutors indicated that Wang and Chen shipped 200 kilograms of chemicals for fentanyl production in 2022 and 2023, engaging with undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents posing as Mexican drug traffickers to arrange the shipments in Bangkok and Fiji.
Looking ahead, Chris Urben, a former DEA agent now serving as the managing director at investigative firm Nardello & Co, mentioned in an interview that trial evidence could help U.S. negotiators in curbing the illicit flow of precursor chemicals to Mexican cartels.
In response, China stated it collaborates with the United States in combating drug trafficking. Amarvel was one of the seven Chinese suppliers cited in a Reuters investigation into the chemical trade.