Yesterday, January 22, the federal court in the southern district of New York continued to hear the case of Amarvel Biotech from Hubei, China, accused of illegally shipping fentanyl precursor chemicals to the United States. Prosecution expert witness Christine Herdin appeared in court to explain in detail the chemical structure of fentanyl and the seven chemical intermediates used in its synthesis.
During the trial, the prosecution presented the structural formulas and chemical characteristics of the relevant chemicals, with Herdin elaborating on the synthesis pathway. For example, the combination of “phenylacetone” and “methylamine” can produce “methamphetamine” (ice). According to testimony, drug traffickers only need to purchase chemical precursors (such as 4-ANPP) and in a simple laboratory setting, carry out several basic steps like chemical reactions, N-acylation, methylation, deprotection, to synthesize fentanyl-like drugs.
Piperidines, as the core compounds in the fentanyl structure, similar precursor chemicals can be slightly modified to produce fentanyl or its analogs. This process is likened to solving a mathematical problem, where to get to 5, one can use 1+4, 2+3, or 6-1. Due to the flexible and versatile nature of solving methods, regulations on chemical precursors by the authorities often struggle to keep pace with the changes.
In this case, the role of Amarvel Biotech seems to go beyond providing raw materials, as they are also suspected of involvement in providing technical guidance. For instance, according to a text message presented by the prosecution, the company’s sales representative Yang Er once told an undercover officer: “We can provide the method to produce ANPP using 79099-07-3.”
According to the indictment, the production of fentanyl and its analogs begins with chemical raw materials and precursors, with most of the related precursors globally sourced from Chinese chemical manufacturers. These companies openly promote fentanyl precursor chemicals on the internet and distribute them to multiple countries, including the United States and Mexico.
In Mexico, drug traffickers utilize these precursors in secret labs to mass-produce finished fentanyl, distributing the deadly drug throughout the United States. Prosecutors point out that these Chinese chemical manufacturers often use misleading labels or deceptive packaging (such as labeling contents as dog food, nuts, or motor oil) to conceal illegal substances and evade inspections by law enforcement agencies in the US and Mexico.
According to the indictment, Amarvel Biotech, located in Wuhan, China, is one of the major producers of fentanyl precursors. The company promotes fentanyl precursor chemicals through numerous online storefronts, marketing them as “top-selling products in Mexico” and offering international customers a guarantee of “100% invisible shipping”. The company’s website even explicitly mentions that the chemicals can be shipped to Culiacan, the operational base of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, which is one of the primary drug trafficking forces in the Western Hemisphere and a major source of fentanyl flowing into the United States.
Evidence reveals that Amarvel Biotech ships several tons of chemicals to the US and Canada every month, with Wang Qingzhou describing the 3 tons of fentanyl precursor chemicals sold to an undercover agent disguised as a businessman as a “small order”.
Prosecutors state that in May 2023, Amarvel Biotech shipped 210 kilograms of chemicals to Los Angeles, which could produce 50 kilograms of fentanyl. However, the defense denies this, claiming that the batch of chemicals contained “zero grams of fentanyl” and one of the chemicals is not a controlled substance.
Prosecutors plan to conclude the presentation of witness evidence on Thursday, followed by defense witnesses testifying in court. The case is expected to conclude by January 31st. ◇