Yunnan customs seize 1.5 tonnes of smuggled poppy capsules

KUNMING -- Over 1.5 tonnes of smuggled poppy capsules were seized by Tengchong city customs in Southwest China's Yunnan province, local customs announced Monday.

On July 3, Tengchong Customs received a report that someone was planning to transport smuggled poppy capsules from Myanmar into China. A task force was immediately set up to investigate the case.

Customs anti-smuggling police intercepted a truck in Houqiao Township near the China-Myanmar border the next morning. Two suspects were arrested, with 86 bags of poppy capsules weighing 1.51 tonnes in the truck seized.

According to Customs, poppies are the raw materials used to make opium. Long-term consumption of food containing poppy capsules can lead to addiction and can cause damage to the human nervous system and may cause chronic poisoning.

Further investigation is underway.