Opinion

China has found a new illicit drug market. America must shut it down

Blockchain researchers traced peptide sales proceeds back to China-based chemical manufacturers linked to synthetic opioids

By Chad Wolf Fox News

Published September 2, 2026 7:59am EDT

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China has found another vulnerability in America’s borders and supply chain - and it's being exploited.

An illicit pipeline is bringing an experimental injectable drug from Chinese chemical manufacturers directly into American homes. The drug is retatrutide, commonly called "reta," and is in clinical trials as a potential treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes. This means there is no FDA-approved version, no lawful generic and it’s illegal to sell to patients.

But the national security concern goes far beyond one drug.

JILLIAN MICHAELS EXPOSES DANGERS OF SELF-DOSING ILLEGAL 'GRAY MARKET' WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS

What we are witnessing is an illegal international supply chain that begins with chemical suppliers in Communist China, moves through customs fraud and concealed shipments, is relabeled by American middlemen and ends with an unapproved injectable drug in an American home.

We’ve seen this playbook before.

CLOSE THE BACKDOOR DRUG PIPELINE THAT’S EMBOLDENING ENEMIES AND HARMING THE PUBLIC

For years, Chinese chemical companies have supplied precursor chemicals used by cartels to make fentanyl. Now there is evidence that elements of this same infrastructure are being used for another lucrative American market: people looking........

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