North Carolina official accuses WeChat of contributing to the US fentanyl epidemic.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson Accuses WeChat of Aiding U.S. Fentanyl Crisis Through Money Laundering
In a video posted online on Tuesday, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson accused Chinese social media app WeChat of facilitating cross-border money laundering that contributes to the ongoing fentanyl abuse crisis in the United States.
According to Jackson, Mexican drug cartels have been using WeChat to coordinate cash pickups in numerous U.S. cities, arrange currency swaps with Chinese brokers, and surreptitiously transfer drug earnings across borders. In his address, Jackson stated, "You are now a key component in the business model that is causing the deaths of thousands of Americans each month."
The allegations mark a shift in the way U.S. officials perceive WeChat's threat. Initially, concerns centered on surveillance, censorship, and foreign influence. However, now the app is being accused of serving as a conduit for criminal enterprises that directly impact American communities.
WeChat's encrypted messaging and mobile payment services are believed to play a significant role in this collaboration. The encrypted nature of these communications makes it difficult for law enforcement to monitor illicit activities.
Money is alleged to be moved from the U.S. to China, then to Mexico, where most fentanyl is produced, in a complex series of transactions facilitated by WeChat's financial features. United States attorneys general from several states have called for WeChat to detail its measures to prevent such criminal use of its platform. Jackson stated, "This isn't conjecture. This is based on real cases, convictions, investigations, and public reports."
Sources:[1] Roll Call, WeChat in US Crosshairs Over Fentanyl, Surveillance, and Influence (2021)[2] The Hill, Mexican Drug Cartels Accused of Laundering Money Through WeChat App (2022)[3] Associated Press, WeChat Accused of Enabling Drug Cartels in U.S. (2022)[4] Axios, WeChat Allegedly Used to Move Millions in Cash in Connection with Fentanyl (2022)[5] Washington Post, WeChat Faces Mounting Scrutiny over Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking (2022)
- The financial transactions facilitated by WeChat's mobile payment services have raised concerns within the general-news sector, particularly in relation to the ongoing business of drug trafficking and money laundering.
- The diplomatic implications of the allegations against WeChat extend beyond the initial concerns about surveillance and foreign influence, as the app is now being implicated in the crime-and-justice domain, contributing to the fentanyl crisis in the United States.
- The finance industry is under scrutiny for its role in enabling the illegal activities of Mexican drug cartels, as they leverage platforms like WeChat for business operations such as money pickups, currency swaps, and transferring drug earnings across borders.
