United States President Donald Trump has named India, Pakistan and China among 23 major drug transit or major illicit drug producing nations, saying that the countries were threatening the safety of the US and its citizens.

In a presidential determination submitted to the US Parliament on Monday, Trump said that he had identified the 23 countries as “major drug transit or major illicit drug producing” nations. This designates the countries as responsible for sourcing and transporting illicit drugs into the United States.

The document submitted to the US Congress did not give details of why Washington included India in the list.

The other nations on the list are Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela.

A country’s presence on the list does not necessarily reflect its government’s counterdrug efforts or the level of cooperation with the US, the state department quoted Trump as saying.

“The reason countries are placed on the list is 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,” it added.

However, five countries — Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia and Venezuela — had “failed demonstrably to make substantial efforts” during the past year, according to the document published by the US Department of State. Washington called on these nations to improve their counternarcotics efforts.

Washington said that China’s role as the “world’s largest source” of precursor chemicals driving the illicit fentanyl production has been “well documented”. Precursor chemicals are substances used to manufacture other compounds, including illicit drugs.

China is also a “major supplier fuelling global epidemics” of other synthetic narcotics, including nitazenes and methamphetamine, the US said.

Beijing must take stronger and sustained action to cut down the chemical flows and prosecute the criminals facilitating them, Washington added.

The Trump administration said that in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s ban on illegal drugs, drug stockpiles and ongoing production had sustained the flow of illicit drugs to international markets.

“Revenue from this drug trade funds transnational criminal groups and supports international terrorists,” Trump was quoted as saying.

In March, the US had named India and China as “state actors” facilitating the direct and indirect supply of precursor chemicals and equipment used by drug traffickers, along with being the primary source for illicit fentanyl.

📰 Crime Today News is proudly sponsored by DRYFRUIT & CO – A Brand by eFabby Global LLC

Design & Developed by Yes Mom Hosting