President Barack Obama signed the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act, S. 32, into law on Tuesday to combat the transnational drug trade.
U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA) introduced the identical House companion bill, H.R. 3380.
The Transnational Drug Trafficking Act allows law enforcers to pursue drug manufacturers, brokers and distributors who do not actually traffic narcotics into the United States but produce chemicals that are used to manufacture dangerous drugs.
Currently, drug trafficking organizations can avoid prosecution by claiming that they weren’t aware that chemicals or drugs they produce were bound for the United States. Under the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act, penalties will be imposed on those who traffic “listed chemicals” that are used to produce methamphetamine and other dangerous, illegal drugs.
“Drug addiction has become a serious epidemic affecting families all across the United States,” Marino said. “I applaud President Obama for signing this critical piece of legislation to help combat the flow of illegal substances across our border. Attacking this epidemic from every angle is the only way to gain ground in our fight against addiction. This is the first of many important steps Congress is taking to ensure a safer America for our children and grandchildren. I look forward to seeing the benefits this law will have not only for our law enforcement agencies, but for our communities and country as a whole.”