US Company Settles Over Fentanyl Chemical Shipping Controversy

IMC Pro International has agreed to a $400,000 settlement with the US government over allegations that it facilitated the shipping of chemicals used to produce fentanyl. It marks the first instance of a US shipping company accused under the Controlled Substances Act for such transshipping activities.

In a landmark settlement, IMC Pro International, a US shipping and logistics company, has agreed to pay $400,000 to the US government. The settlement addresses allegations that the company assisted Chinese chemical firms in shipping fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States, US authorities disclosed on Wednesday.

This is the first instance where a US shipping firm has settled accusations involving violations of the Controlled Substances Act due to transshipping fentanyl precursors. According to authorities, chemicals are routed through the US to Mexico, where they are transformed into fentanyl. The practice exploits loopholes in US trade policies, allowing merchandise under $800 to bypass stringent inspections.

IMC Pro, which has maintained facilities in California and Illinois since its inception in 1994, denied sending the parcels but admitted to sharing their shipping accounts with Chinese companies. The DEA and the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas announced the settlement, highlighting a broader investigation into the shadowy supply chains fueling a national fentanyl crisis.

(With inputs from agencies.)