Narcotics production in China drastically abates in 2018: report

BEIJING -- China saw significant abatement of narcotics production in 2018 as a result of persistent crackdown, according to a report on the country's drug control situation released Monday.

A total of 412 cases on narcotics production were solved across the country during the year, down by 30.8 percent year on year, said the report issued by the China National Narcotics Control Commission.

Anti-narcotics police busted 268 production dens and seized 14.7 tonnes of drugs in the process last year, also reducing by 15.5 percent and 37 percent respectively from the previous year.

Moreover, 1,157 cases on items for drug production were solved in 2018, with 11,000 tonnes of the items seized, up 1.6 and 3.5 times respectively year on year, while the illegal production, buying and selling, transport and trafficking of drug-producing items remained active, according to the report.

The report also said that the complicated situation of overseas narcotics sources that China is facing did not change, with the harm and potential threats both increasing.

For instance, the country seized 29.6 tonnes of narcotics from the Golden Triangle, one of the largest overseas drug sources last year, a 17.6-percent yearly increase. The drugs seized included 4.6 tonnes of methamphetamine and 1.4 tonnes of ketamine, 43.6 percent and 23.9 percent of the country's total seizure of the respective categories last year.

Moreover, China seized 1.4 tonnes of cocaine from South America in 2018, up 3.4 times from 2017, which has become another major concern for the country, according to the report.