Here are just a few known Americans involved in the Chinese Opium trade.
John Jacob Astor- Worked for the British East India Company. In 1816 under the American Fur Company sailed ships to Turkey to purchase opium which was sold in China.
Thomas H. Perkins - established an insurance company in the United States which insured the opium ships.
Caleb Cushing - The United States Ambassador to China, who sanctioned the opium trade.
Edward Sturgis and Thomas H. Perkins - Bought a trading ship named Hope and began selling opium in China.
Nathaniel Sturgis - Son of Edward Sturgis took over the business and partnered with George Russel. They formed the Russel and Sturgis Company in 1823. Soon they became the largest opium traffikers in China.
Warren Delano Jr. - Chief of Operations for the Russel and Sturgis Company in Canton also the grandfather of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Thought I would mention this, all of the the above named are known members of a group known as Freemasons.