Press conference of Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission on June 19, 2025. photo: Zhao Yusha/GT

Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission published China Drug Situation report on Thursday. The report showed that in 2024 the number of foreign nationals involved in drug smuggling and trafficking has significantly increased, with 249 foreign drug traffickers arrested in China - mostly from Myanmar and Vietnam - marking a 29.7 percent year-on-year rise.

The report indicates that the global drug problem has intensified, with drug production in major source regions remaining high. Annual outputs of drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine continue to climb. The drug abuse market has expanded globally, with nearly 300 million drug users - 20 percent more than a decade ago. Smuggling and trafficking activities have also escalated, with frequent large-scale cases involving drug concealment in international cargo containers, trucks, and ships, leading to seizures of drugs weighing tons.

Meanwhile, China's national drug situation has maintained an overall improving trend, with continuous enhancement in drug abuse governance. By the end of 2024, China had 747,000 existing drug users, a 16.7 percent year-on-year decrease, accounting for 5.4 out of 10,000 of the population. The number of individuals who have abstained from drugs for three years without relapse reached 4.286 million, up 5.1 percent year on year, according to the report.

The report shows that the basic trend of China's drug seizures mainly coming from overseas - with some domestic sources - has not changed. Although drug seizures in the Golden Triangle are decreased, it remains the primary source of drugs for China. Throughout the year, 12.4 tons of drugs from the Golden Triangle were seized, a decrease of 18.4 percent year-on-year, accounting for 76 percent of total overseas drug seizures. This included 9.5 tons of methamphetamine (down 22.8 percent) and 1.1 tons of opium and heroin (down 61 percent).

China's narcotics control authorities have maintained a high-pressure crackdown on drug crimes. A total of 29,000 cases involving drug smuggling, trafficking, and transportation were cracked, with 54,000 suspects arrested - down 11 percent and 2.8 percent year-on-year, respectively - while 17.5 tons of drugs were seized, up 20.4 percent.

Cross-border and trans-regional drug trafficking remained active. In 2024, 656 drug smuggling cases were cracked, with 5.5 tons of drugs seized - up 2.2 percent and 30 percent year-on-year, respectively. Foreign nationals' involvement in smuggling and trafficking increased notably, with 249 foreign drug traffickers arrested in China (mostly from Myanmar and Vietnam), a 29.7 percent rise. Drug crimes involving Hong Kong, Macao, and island of Taiwan also surged, with 187 cases cracked and 5 tons of drugs seized - up 18.3 percent and 56 percent year-on-year.

When asked about the progress of the arrest warrants for 10 major fugitives for drug-related charges in northern Myanmar issued by the Ministry of Public Security in December 2023, Lan Weihong, deputy director of the Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, said that after more than a year of continuous efforts - with strong support from law enforcement agencies in Myanmar and Thailand - eight of the 10 publicly wanted major drug fugitives have been apprehended. Notorious drug producers and traffickers like Long Hua, Zeng Xiaoyong, Mu Chaodong, and Zhang Anlong, who posed long-term threats, will be severely punished by Chinese law.

Lan noted that in recent years, while cracking down on domestic drug crimes, narcotics authorities have focused on hunting down "stubborn" drug fugitives who have long fled abroad and continued to traffic drugs into China. Through a special campaign and cross-border law enforcement cooperation, over 500 drug fugitives have been arrested from countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

In 2024 alone, 140 such fugitives were captured through cross-border police cooperation, marking the largest achievement in recent years and dealing a powerful blow to overseas drug trafficking syndicates.

"We once again solemnly warn drug producers and traffickers who remain at large - including major fugitives Li Guoping and Wu Yuyang - against clinging to false hopes. They must recognize the situation, return to China to surrender, and seek leniency," Lan said.