More and more drugs from overseas are entering the country, according to a report by the Global Times, with most coming from the Golden Triangle in Southeast Asia.
In 2015, 8.8 tons of heroin and 12 tons of meth tablets were confiscated by officials, 90 percent of which came from the Golden Triangle, an area in Southeast Asia bordering the countries of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
According to the 2015 China Drug Situation Report released by the China National Narcotics Commission, this area is the primary source of heroin and meth tablets that have penetrated China.
The Golden Triangle is home to about 46,700 hectares of poppy fields, which can roughly produce more than 60 tons of heroin or 600 tons of opium per year. Meth tablets are also produced in the area, with annual production even surpassing that of heroin.
Another problem, the report identified, was the smuggling of drugs to China by international drug traffickers from Central and Western Asian's Golden Crest, an area that covers Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Smugglers from Hong Kong, Africa and South America were caught by authorities smuggling cocaine from South America. The drugs were hidden in suitcases and delivery packages addressed to Guangdong Province and Hong Kong.
Authorities were able to seize approximately 98 kilograms of cocaine from nine Chinese provinces in 2015. As for suspects, 1,927 foreigners were arrested, coming from 39 countries including Nigeria, Vietnam, Myanmar and Pakistan.
"Foreign suspects in drug-related crimes not only transported drugs into China but also smuggled domestic drugs and precursor chemicals out of China," Liu Yuejin, vice commissioner of the NNCC, said at a press conference held in Beijing on Thursday, Feb. 18.
The Ministry of Public Security also reported that 1,287 suspects engaged in 122 cross-border cases were arrested, which showed a 42-percent increase. Liu attributes more arrests to stricter crackdowns and improved international communication.
When asked whether China will see improvements in the drug issue, Liu said: "The drug situation in China remains severe and complicated. It will continue to expand, and narcotics enforcement will come under tremendous pressure and face grave challenges for a long time to come."