The sentencing came as the global powers are seeking to finalise a trade deal following more than a year of bruising negotiations, with the flood of Chinese fentanyl one of the sticking points. Two others received life terms for trafficking fentanyl and alprazolam -– the hugely popular prescription anxiety drug branded as Xanax. The nine defendants were brought in surrounded by guards and stood facing court officials to hear their sentences read. Moore said officers in New Orleans obtained in August 2017 the contact details of a supplier in China known as “Diana”. The White House’s “drug czar”, Jim Carroll, said after meetings with Chinese officials in September that he was convinced that Beijing was committed to going after traffickers.

Source: The Guardian November 07, 2019 10:18 UTC