China intensifies crackdown on fentanyl-related crimes

China's judicial and law enforcement authorities will continue their intensified crackdown on crimes involving fentanyl-related substances, vowing to strongly protect people's health and maintain social stability.

The Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Public Security recently issued a guideline on handling criminal cases involving fentanyl-related substances. The 18-article document was made public on Wednesday and took effect the same day.

The three authorities stressed the need to fully recognize the real and potential harm of fentanyl-related crimes. They noted that fentanyl-related substances are a broad category that includes fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid used in medicine, and its chemical variants. These substances are fast-evolving, come in many forms, and carry a high risk of abuse. The vast majority of such substances have no legitimate medical use, the authorities highlighted.

They also revealed that in recent years, China has seen a number of criminal cases involving the smuggling, sale, and manufacturing of fentanyl-related substances, which pose a serious threat to public health, create hidden dangers, and undermine social stability.

The newly released guideline therefore draws a clear line between medical and non-medical fentanyl-related substances. It clarifies that medical items are handled under the SPC's existing judicial interpretation on drug crimes, while non-medical substances are tackled by reference to the handling of heroin under the Criminal Law.

According to the SPC judicial interpretation, smuggling, selling, manufacturing, or illegally possessing 125 grams or more of medical fentanyl constitutes a "large quantity" in the Criminal Law, an offense punishable by 15 years to life in prison, or even death. Under the law, the same penalties apply to 50 grams or more of heroin.