AG Jackson Urges Federal Action on Fentanyl Money Laundering via Messaging Apps

NC AG Press Releases

Published March 23rd, 2026

Detected March 23rd, 2026

Summary

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson led a bipartisan group of state AGs in urging the federal government to address fentanyl money laundering through Chinese-based messaging apps like Weixin. The letter requests federal action to close a gap in law enforcement's ability to track illicit financial flows across international borders.

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What changed

Attorney General Jeff Jackson, along with a bipartisan coalition of state Attorneys General, has sent a letter to the President urging federal action to combat fentanyl money laundering facilitated through Chinese-based messaging apps, specifically Weixin. This action follows previous commitments secured from WeChat, but highlights a critical gap where Weixin, operating under Chinese data privacy laws, does not cooperate with U.S. law enforcement requests, hindering investigations into money brokers based in China.

The practical implication for regulated entities is an increased focus on the financial channels used for illicit drug trafficking. While this notice does not impose direct compliance obligations on private companies, it signals a heightened regulatory and law enforcement priority on disrupting these financial pipelines. Compliance officers in financial institutions should be aware of potential future regulatory actions or increased scrutiny regarding cross-border transactions and the use of messaging apps for financial activities, particularly those involving jurisdictions with differing data privacy laws and law enforcement cooperation agreements.

What to do next

Review internal controls for cross-border financial transactions.
Stay informed on potential federal initiatives or international agreements regarding financial data access for law enforcement.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Jeff Jackson Leads Bipartisan Group of AGs Urging Federal Action on Fentanyl Money Laundering Through Chinese-Based Messaging App

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 23, 2026
Contact: comms@ncdoj.gov
919-538-2809

RALEIGH – Attorney General Jeff Jackson led a bipartisan group of attorneys general today asking the president and the federal government to take action to address the issue of drug traffickers using messaging apps like WeChat and its Chinese-based sister app, Weixin, to facilitate fentanyl trafficking and money laundering.

Fentanyl kills about six North Carolinians a day. Billions of dollars in drug proceeds are laundered each year through an underground banking network that relies heavily on messaging apps, and earlier this month, Attorney General Jeff Jackson led a bipartisan coalition that secured enforceable commitments from WeChat to help law enforcement disrupt that pipeline.

But there’s a gap the coalition can’t close on its own.

WeChat’s Chinese-based sister app, Weixin, operates under Chinese data privacy laws and does not respond to U.S. law enforcement requests. Since many of the money brokers facilitating fentanyl transactions are based in China and use Weixin, American investigators hit a wall when the trail crosses that border.

Today, Attorney General Jackson and the same bipartisan coalition sent a letter to the president asking the federal government to work with Chinese government counterparts to close that gap.

“We got WeChat to the table and secured real commitments, but its sister app in China is still a black box for American law enforcement,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “If the federal government makes this a priority with China, we can shut down the financial pipeline that keeps fentanyl flowing into the country.”

The coalition’s earlier work with WeChat has already produced results. The company agreed to deploy money laundering identification tools, respond to law enforcement requests for account information, and process emergency requests within 48 hours. Opioid overdose deaths have been declining since 2023, in large part because federal, state, and local partnerships have expanded drug treatment options, increased seizures at ports of entry, and cracked down on the chemicals used to make fentanyl.

Closing the Weixin gap is the next step. Without access to data on the China-based platform, law enforcement cannot fully dismantle the international networks laundering drug profits.

Attorney General Jackson is joined in sending this letter by the Attorneys General of South Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire, and New Jersey.

A copy of the letter is available here.

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