Chinese Customs Seizes 15.6 Tons of Illegal Drugs in Two Years

60,000 units of illegal prescription drugs seized Over 60,000 units of illegal prescription medicines have been seized as part of a week-long operation by the ...

 

According to China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) the drugs were confiscated in 1,100 cases involving more than 1,060 suspects since 2014.

The seized drugs, which included methamphetamine, heroin, opium, and cocaine, were discovered in postal packages, on tourists, and courier deliveries, the GAC said.

Huge amount of drugs were also seized through freight transport, the GAC added. A notable case involved Guangzhou customs in Guangdong province, which seized a total of 339 kilograms of methamphetamine in two smuggling cases involving freight transport.

Authorities have also discovered that drug smugglers are getting innovative in their efforts to sneak illegal substance into China.

In Shanghai, customs personnel intercepted cocaine hidden in red wine while authorities in Qingdao discovered cocaine in plastic bags sewn into underwear.

Among those arrested during the two-day operation were pregnant women, the elderly, minors, and even college-educated teens who were either hired or coerced to carry out the smuggling.

The results of China's two-year anti-drug smuggling efforts were released on 26 June in observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

China has been actively participating in a global effort to fight smuggling of illegal drugs.

In 2015, a global customs enforcement operation codenamed SKY-NET had resulted in the confiscation of 18.6 tons of illegal drugs.

The global customs enforcement operation was organized by the World Customs Organization in close cooperation with China's General Administration of Customs.

The Chinese government has long been harsh on suspects involved in the smuggling and trafficking of illegal drugs. Crimes involving illegal drugs carry the penalty of death in the country.