Kirk Praises Sanctions on Chinese Drug Traffickers and Encourages Greater Cooperation and Accountability From Chinese Government

Members of Chinese Drug Trafficking Ring Sanctioned by Treasury Department

Synthetics Contributed to 11,406 ER Visits in 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) released a statement following news that the U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a number of Chinese drug traffickers who have been involved in the selling, manufacturing and transporting of synthetic drugs internationally.

Zhang Lei (a.k.a. Eric Chang) has been accused of shipping thousands of kilograms of synthetic drugs and substances in a number of countries around the world, including the United States. In June of this year, Senator Kirk met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Chicago and called for Chinese cooperation to stop the flow of these deadly drugs, specifically dangerous synthetic drugs intended to mimic the effects of marijuana, into the United States. Synthetic marijuana is the drug seized most by law enforcement at O’Hare.

“Every day, deadly substances like synthetic marijuana are putting Illinois teenagers at risk – and we need to hold the kingpins running these drug trafficking rings responsible,” Senator Kirk said. “I told the Chinese government in June that they needed to combat the flow of illicit synthetic substances, and I am encouraged that the Treasury Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration are enforcing the law and sanctioning the people who have been pushing these illegal substances into our kids’ hands.”