This bill amends parts of the Controlled Substances Act to target the importation and distribution of equipment used to make illegal pills. It makes it unlawful to manufacture or distribute tableting machines, encapsulating machines, press punches, die systems, gelatin capsules, or related equipment, chemicals, products, or materials when a person intends or knows they will be used to make a controlled substance and intends, knows, or has reasonable cause to believe the finished substance will be unlawfully imported into the United States. The bill also adds those acts to the list of prohibited acts and raises potential prison terms for violations. For example, violations involving a List I chemical can carry up to 20 years in prison; other listed violations carry maximum terms of up to 8 or 10 years, and violations involving large quantities (over 1,000 kilograms of a chemical or more than 100 tableting/encapsulating machines) can carry up to 15 years. The bill directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend federal sentencing guidelines as needed.
No publicly available information.
The bill’s stated purpose is to prevent the importation of illicit pill press machines used to counterfeit substances and to strengthen criminal penalties and sentencing guidance for those who manufacture or distribute such equipment or related chemicals with illicit intent.
No publicly available information.