China-US Counternarcotics Cooperation Advances as Two Men Jailed in Chemical Trafficking Case
Dragon Media News Desk
A Chinese court has sentenced a father and son to six years and five and a half years in prison respectively for illegally trafficking controlled chemicals abroad, in a case presented as a result of strengthened counternarcotics cooperation between China and the United States.
A court in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, found a man surnamed Xia and his son guilty of illegal business operations.
According to the court, the two organised others to illegally sell 123 batches of controlled stimulant substances, with total sales exceeding 1.69 million yuan.
In 2023, the US Drug Enforcement Administration provided China’s Ministry of Public Security with information concerning a cross-border trafficking case involving sensitive chemicals. Chinese police subsequently established a special task force, investigated the case and brought the suspects to justice.
Chinese police have urged chemical traders and exporters to strictly comply with relevant laws and regulations in China and destination countries, while remaining alert to potential legal risks.
China and the United States have expanded practical law enforcement cooperation this year in areas including counternarcotics, telecommunications and online fraud, and the repatriation of fugitives.
Law enforcement agencies from the two countries have jointly investigated cases involving drug smuggling, trafficking and the transnational movement of new psychoactive substances.
In a joint operation against telecommunications and online fraud involving the United Arab Emirates, nine fraud centres were dismantled and 276 suspects were arrested.
Cooperation has also extended to fugitive repatriation. The United States has handed over two suspects to China, while Chinese police repatriated to the United States a fugitive wanted for serious violent crimes.
In July, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met FBI Director Kash Patel in Beijing, where the two sides discussed further strengthening cooperation on counternarcotics, online fraud, money laundering and fugitive investigations.
China and the United States have maintained a counternarcotics intelligence exchange mechanism since 2002. Its 11th meeting was held in February this year, focusing on drug trends, joint investigations and chemical controls.
China has also tightened export controls on precursor chemicals related to fentanyl in recent years.
Chinese public security authorities have said they will continue expanding information sharing, joint investigations and cooperation with law enforcement agencies in the United States and other countries to combat transnational crime.
