US President Donald Trump has identified China, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and 19 other nations as major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries, warning that their activities threaten the safety of the United States.
In a Presidential Determination submitted to Congress on Monday, Trump listed these countries as sources or routes for illicit drugs entering the United States.According to the White House, Trump delivered the “Major’s List” to Congress, designating these countries as responsible for sourcing and transporting illicit drugs into the US, reported PTI.
The state department clarified that inclusion on the list does not necessarily reflect a government’s cooperation or counternarcotics work.
It said the designation is based on “the combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs or precursor chemicals to be transited or produced, even if a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control and law enforcement measures.”
1. Afghanistan
2. The Bahamas
3. Belize
4. Bolivia
5. Burma
6. China
7. Colombia
8. Costa Rica
9. Dominican Republic
10. Ecuador
11. El Salvador
12. Guatemala
13. Haiti
14. Honduras
15. India
16. Jamaica
17. Laos
18. Mexico
19. Nicaragua
20. Pakistan
21. Panama
22. Peru
23. Venezuela
According to the White House, these countries are either sources of illicit drug production or serve as major transit points for trafficking into the US.
The state department said five countries Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, and Venezuela have “failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts” to meet international counternarcotics obligations.
It also clarified that inclusion on the list “does not necessarily reflect a government’s counter drug efforts or level of cooperation with the United States,” but is based on geographic and economic factors that enable drug flows.
Trump singled out China as the “world's largest source” of precursor chemicals used in illicit fentanyl production.
He said China is also a major supplier of synthetic narcotics including nitazenes and methamphetamine.
