US sanctions 17 Chinese, Mexican targets over fentanyl production

Plastic bags of fentanyl are displayed on a table at the US Customs and Border Protection area on Nov. 29, 2017. [Reuters]

The United States hit 17 individuals and entities in China and Mexico with sanctions on Tuesday, accusing them of supplying equipment that Mexican drug cartels use to manufacture fentanyl-spiked fake pills for the U.S. market.

The move by the U.S. Treasury Department, coordinated with the Mexican government, is part of a U.S. crackdown on the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs from Mexico that are taking the lives of tens of thousands of Americans.