Drug-Trafficking Into China Surges After Pandemic Curbs Lifted, Report Says

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The Office of National Narcotics Control Commission release a Drug Situation Report in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: VCG

Drug-trafficking in China surged last year after pandemic controls were lifted, making cross-border travel easier, and social activities gradually resumed, according to a government report.

More than 20 tons of illegal drugs produced by foreign sources were confiscated in 2023, up 85% year-on-year, according to a Drug Situation Report released by the Office of National Narcotics Control Commission (ONNCC) on Thursday.

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In 2023, China confiscated over 20 tons of illegal drugs, an 85% increase, and handled 32,000 drug-trafficking cases with 56,000 arrests.
The Golden Triangle, Golden Crescent, and Silver Triangle were major sources of trafficked drugs; methamphetamine from Mexico increased 24 times from 2022.
Domestic drug production showed signs of resurgence with 274 cases cracked, while the number of drug abusers in China decreased by 20.3% to 896,000.

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What Happened When

2023：: Drug-trafficking in China surged after pandemic controls were lifted, making cross-border travel easier, and social activities gradually resumed.

2023：: More than 20 tons of illegal drugs produced by foreign sources were confiscated, up 85% year-on-year.

2023：: Chinese authorities cracked some 32,000 drug-trafficking and smuggling cases and made 56,000 arrests, up 18.5% and 36.5% year-on-year, respectively.

2023：: Nearly 1 ton of methamphetamine seized came from Mexico, 24 times the amount from 2022, while 2.6 tons of confiscated cocaine came from South America, marking an annual increase of 13.5 times.