The Biden administration has announced criminal charges against eight Chinese companies and 12 executives for supplying precursor chemicals used in producing illegal synthetic drugs. The charges come as part of efforts to combat the fentanyl crisis in the US, which claims over 100,000 American lives per year. Undercover agents ordered the chemicals from online sellers in China, who used deceptive methods to avoid detection by US authorities. The administration is also imposing sanctions on individuals and entities involved in trafficking synthetic opioids. The flow of fentanyl across the southern border remains a challenge for US authorities, with a large volume of seizures indicating abundant supplies and difficulties in intercepting shipments.