Timothy O'Toole commented on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's (OFAC's) designation of five Chinese nationals under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act; the designations were implemented in an effort to target the trafficking of the synthetic opioid fentanyl. "The Kingpin Act designations, standing alone, can effectively cut off narcotics traffickers from the US financial system, as the penalties for US persons who deal with a Kingpin Act designee are very severe," O'Toole said. "But for the sanctions to truly limit foreign traffickers by cutting off all their activities, local enforcement authorities must assume a substantial role. Last week’s announcement suggests Chinese authorities are doing so, which will make the combined actions much more likely to succeed," he said.