The Department of Justice announced federal charges against six Chinese nationals and two Chinese pharmaceutical companies accused of participating in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies tied to fentanyl production.

A federal grand jury in Dayton, Ohio, returned the indictment against Hanson Zhao, Gao Yanpeng, Xia Yi, Zhang Jian, Wang Zhaolan, and Zhang Chunhai, along with Shandong Believe Chemical Company PTE Ltd. and Shandong Ranhang Biotechnology Co. Ltd.

Prosecutors allege the defendants conspired to manufacture, possess, and distribute large quantities of fentanyl and related substances, including chemical precursors and cutting agents used to increase drug supply. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Zhao and the two companies also face charges for attempting to provide material support to the Gulf Cartel, a Mexican drug trafficking organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. Additional charges include money laundering conspiracy for all defendants and an obstruction of justice count against Zhao.

According to the indictment, the network allegedly marketed and sold chemical components used to produce fentanyl, including substances like medetomidine, an animal tranquilizer not approved for human use in the United States that can significantly increase the potency and volume of the drug.

Prosecutors say the defendants used cryptocurrency transactions routed through multiple accounts to conceal payments before converting the funds overseas. The scheme allegedly relied on intermediaries to solicit U.S. customers and facilitate illegal sales.

U.S. Attorney Dominick Gerace II said authorities are targeting every level of the fentanyl supply chain, from overseas suppliers to domestic distributors.

The case follows a similar indictment in September involving additional Chinese nationals and companies accused of supplying illegal chemical agents used in fentanyl production, underscoring ongoing federal efforts to combat the opioid crisis.