Sanctions Center’s Post

📣 Leader and Insider Admit to Fraudulent Scheme Redirecting Biochemical Products to China 📅 On May 22, 2024, the Justice Department announced that Pen Yu and Gregory Muñoz pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for defrauding biochemical company MilliporeSigma and exporting products to China using falsified documents. 💬 MilliporeSigma self-disclosed the misconduct and cooperated fully, leading to the convictions without the company facing prosecution. The scheme, running from July 2016 to May 2023, involved Yu falsely affiliating with a university lab to obtain discounts, aided by Muñoz, a company insider. ✅ The disclosure enabled law enforcement to halt illegal exports and secure guilty pleas from the perpetrators. This marks the first declination under the NSD Enforcement Policy. Original source 👉: https://lnkd.in/d95BEk2a #USexportcontrols #exportcontrols #exportcontrolsupdate #ExportControlViolation #Fraud #BiochemicalProducts #China #FalsifiedDocuments

💊Europe is facing a fentanyl crisis. In 2023, victims of this deadly substance were reported already in a few countries. The team of journalists trace the path of fentanyl from Mexico to Romania and Poland and show the complexity of the issue. 🌍The investigation highlights the growing presence of Mexican drug cartels in Europe, particularly in Poland and Spain. Polish police recently found a meth lab in Podlasie run by Mexicans from Sinaloa, part of a broader surge in synthetic drug production across Europe, which has increased by 400% from 2010 to 2020. 💶Mexican cartels, like the Jalisco cartel in Spain, operate discreetly, unlike in Mexico, where they flaunt their wealth. While large-scale fentanyl production isn't yet common in Europe, there are concerns that it could become a threat in the next decade. However, cartels face challenges like a lack of cooperation with European law enforcement. 👉A new investigation by OKO.press, Context.ro, Szymon Opryszek, Wlodzimierz Nowak & Biro Attila ➡️This project was supported by the European Cross-border grant programme Read the investigation here⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eqernP6b

📣 Tampa Man Sentenced for Biochemical Fraud On August 2, 2024, Pen Yu (51, Taiwan) was sentenced to three years and eight months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, plus three years of supervised release and $100,000 forfeiture. 🎯 Conviction Details: - Yu, found guilty on May 2, 2024, defrauded MilliporeSigma of over $4.9 million in biochemical products using false university affiliation. - Products were diverted to China via falsified export documents. 🔍 Investigated by multiple agencies, with MilliporeSigma's cooperation leading to quick identification and prosecution of Yu and his co-conspirators. Original source 👉: https://lnkd.in/gep2V6b3 #USexportcontrols #exportcontrols #exportcontrolsupdate #Fraud #BiochemicalTheft #MilliporeSigma #ExportFraud 

The liability risk of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is coming into view for a broad range of industries — but how it will all play out is still unclear. At Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Annual Summer Conference 2024, Exponent’s Sarah Parker, Ph.D., will participate in the panel, “PFAScinating Litigation Developments: Defining ‘Forever’ and ‘Ubiquitous’ in PFAS Chemical Cases.” This panel will discuss evolving scientific and medical evidence surrounding PFAS as well as potential strategies for PFAS litigation. Register: https://hubs.ly/Q02JjSJw0 Connect with Dr. Parker: https://hubs.ly/Q02JjB3C0 #Exponent #Events #FDCC #PFAS

🌀 Rewinding to November's panel discussion on critical shifts in biological evaluation – 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 – Jordi Labs, an RQM+ Company Director of Biological Evaluation Taryn Meade offers a high-level overview of the looming changes to ISO 10993-1. For full details and what you can expect to get out of watching or listening to the session, follow the link in the comments. #BiologicalEvaluation #ISO10993 #MedicalDevices

The House Select Committee's investigation into GenScript's alleged ties to China, under the BIOSECURE Act, has significant implications for U.S. biopharma companies and Chinese CDMOs. This regulatory focus, aimed at protecting America's bioeconomy from foreign threats, demands heightened scrutiny of U.S.-China partnerships. The Committee's request for an FBI briefing highlights the urgency of addressing potential national security risks. With increased oversight, the role of PR and IR teams becomes vital. Companies will need to navigate a challenging landscape, ensuring transparent communication while safeguarding sensitive information and business relationships. Effective strategies will be essential in managing investor concerns and retaining public trust amid these developments. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/ewDKZbN4

If you're wondering why we're focusing so much on the #deminimis loophole? This Reuters investigation is a good example of why. https://buff.ly/3Spsl3L The loophole is letting in fentanyl precursors , which is contributing to the fentanyl crisis in this country. Watch our press conference asking POTUS to act: https://buff.ly/3zkDYCT

We are not guided by expectations or beliefs in conducting our science. What we do focus on is data. In other words, reliable and methodologically acquired information based on facts. Here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d7SXYKVQ , facts on our leading heated tobacco product speak for themselves. #HardData #ScientificMethod #ScientificConclusion #ScienceInformation

With how fast AI is moving in all directions, a common oversight falls within the advancements in synthetic biology. What comes in due process is how we can prevent malicious actors, and regulate the availability of potentially hazardous biomolecules.

LC-MS offers high sensitivity and specificity, allowing for the detection and quantitation of PFAS at very low concentrations, which is important given that these substances can be harmful even in trace amounts. Understand more about PFAS and LC-MS analysis in this month's Spotlight on series: https://bit.ly/3WgyKk3 #SpotlightOnSeries #Quantitation #LCMSanalysis #SCIEX #PFAS #PFASCIEX