The U.S. government on Tuesday imposed sanctions on 17 entities from China and Mexico for their alleged role in producing illicit fentanyl that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans through drug overdoses.

The move by the Treasury and State Departments targets companies linked to pill production equipment used in making counterfeit drugs that are often laced with potent, often deadly synthetic opioids.

“Treasury’s sanctions target every stage of the deadly supply chain fueling the surge in fentanyl poisonings and deaths across the country,” said Brian E. Nelson, Treasury un …