Preface
　　In 2024, Chinese drug control authorities conscientiously implemented the important instructions of President Xi Jinping on drug control and the decisions and deployments of the central government. A series of crackdown and rectification campaigns were carried out continuously, with solid progress made in prevention education, management services, and supervision of precursor chemicals, achieving notable results in drug control efforts. Throughout the year, a total of 37,000 drug-related criminal cases were solved, 62,000 suspects were arrested, 26.7 tons of drugs were seized, and 193,000 drug users were detected, representing respective decreases of 12.9% and 5.6%, an increase of 3%, and a decrease of 1% compared to the previous year. Overall, the national drug situation continued to improve steadily.
　　Currently, the global drug problem is worsening, with major drug-producing regions maintaining high levels of production. Annual output of drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine continues to rise. The global market for drug abuse is expanding rapidly, with nearly 300 million people using drugs worldwide, representing a 20% increase over the past decade. Smuggling and trafficking activities are intensifying, with frequent large-scale smuggling and trafficking cases involving international cargo ships, containers, trucks, and vessels, and tons of drugs often seized. Affected by international drug situations, domestic drug problems in China are also showing new changes and characteristics, including diversified infiltration of drugs, professionalization of drug manufacturing crimes, large-scale drug trafficking, and increasingly complex patterns of drug abuse. Thus, China’s drug control efforts still face immense pressure and serious challenges.

　　I. Drug Abuse
　　In 2024, through comprehensive drug control publicity and education, innovative improvements in the service and management of drug users, and vigorous promotion of efforts to detect, register, and provide treatment and support to drug users, China achieved continued improvement in the governance of drug abuse. By the end of 2024, the number of current drug users in China was 747,000, a decrease of 16.7% year-on-year, accounting for 5.4 per ten thousand of the population. Meanwhile, the number of individuals who had remained drug-free for three years without relapse reached 4.286 million, up by 5.1%. At the same time, the types of substances abused domestically underwent structural changes, with the abuse of non-traditional controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and non-controlled addictive substances spreading rapidly, increasing numbers of people abusing them, and particularly prominent issues among young people.
　　- The number of people abusing major prevalent drugs continued to decline. By the end of 2024, among current drug users nationwide, 239,000 abused opioids and 349,000 abused methamphetamine, representing respective declines of 28% and 23.3% year-on-year. Throughout the year, 76,000 people were found to have abused methamphetamine and 21,000 abused opioids, down by 25% and 51% respectively. Numbers of those identified for abusing cannabis and ketamine also declined year-on-year.
　　- Abuse of non-traditional controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (those other than opioids, heroin, methamphetamine, ketamine, cocaine, and cannabis) remained severe. A total of 88,000 people were identified abusing non-traditional controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances throughout the year, accounting for 45.6% of all detected drug users. Etomidate was the most commonly abused drug, making up 38.5% of all drug abuse cases. Significant numbers of people were also found abusing metomidate, compound tramadol, dextromethorphan, and other similar substances. 76,000 people under the age of 35 were identified abusing non-traditional controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances during the year, representing 86.4% of all such cases. According to monitoring results from the National Narcotics Laboratory based on wastewater and hair testing, there was no evidence of significant abuse of fentanyl-type substances.
　　- Abuse of non-controlled addictive substances became more prominent. Some drug users turned to abusing non-controlled addictive substances to evade detection and punishment. Throughout the year, 49,000 people were found to have abused non-controlled addictive substances, with 30,000 abusing "laughing gas" ("nitrous oxide"), accounting for 61.2% of all such cases. There has been an increase in the abuse of substances such as "Rush", butane, tiletamine, and others. In some provinces, the number of people abusing non-controlled addictive substances has already exceeded the number abusing illicit drugs.

　　II. Sources of Drugs
　　China’s drug seizure situation remained unchanged, with most drugs originating from abroad and some from domestic sources. With the effective functioning of a multi-layered prevention and control system along the southwest border, strong interception measures under the "Clearing Source and Cutting Flow" campaign, and enhanced maritime drug enforcement capabilities, the inflow of drugs from abroad decreased. Throughout the year, 16.3 tons of foreign-sourced drugs were seized, a decrease of 20% year-on-year. However, due to reduced supply from external sources and increased demand for new types of drugs domestically, some areas within China have seen a resurgence in drug production activities.
　　1. Infiltration of Overseas Drugs
　　- Drug seizures from the "Golden Triangle" region decreased but remained China’s primary source of drugs. A total of 12.4 tons of drugs from the "Golden Triangle" region were seized during the year, down 18.4% year-on-year, accounting for 76% of all foreign-sourced drugs seized. Of these, 9.5 tons were methamphetamine, down 22.8%, while opium and heroin totaled 1.1 tons, down 61%. Although the volume of drugs entering via the China-Myanmar border declined by almost 20%, increasing amounts were being trafficked into China through land routes via Lao PDR and Vietnam or via maritime smuggling.
　　- Cocaine transiting from South America remained significant. Despite a 22.5% decline in cocaine seizures from South America, the amount of 2 tons seized throughout the year remained at a near-decade high, with most intercepted in coastal provinces like Guangdong and Fujian. Cocaine was mainly smuggled through international logistics channels or transported by criminals traveling by boat directly to South American source regions before being brought into China. There was clear intent by traffickers to expand the cocaine market within mainland China.
　　- Drug smuggling via the Gulf of Thailand increased. A total of 2.26 tons of heroin, ketamine, and cannabis were seized from the Gulf of Thailand over the year, indicating that the area has become a key maritime distribution hub for drugs originating from the "Golden Triangle" region and Southeast Asia.
　　2. Domestic Drug Sources
　　- Drug production cases decreased while the manufacture of new psychoactive substances increased. Chinese drug control authorities have continued intensifying oversight of key individuals and elements related to drug production, achieving effective results domestically. Throughout the year, drug production activities were detected in 23 provinces, with 184 drug production cases solved, a decrease of 12.4% year-on-year. While the manufacture of main synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine and ketamine, decreased, the manufacture of new psychoactive substances rose sharply, with 1.6 tons of newly controlled substances seized, including etomidate, methoxetamine, and isopropoxate. Some criminals with backgrounds in medicine or chemical engineering have been developing non-controlled addictive substances.
　　- Diversion of precursor chemicals continued to be suppressed. Chinese drug control authorities regard chemical control as a fundamental measure to curb both domestic and international drug production. Strong controls over precursor chemicals, suspicious transaction investigations, and tracing of raw materials used in drug production have been strengthened. Yunnan Province enacted regulations governing precursor chemical management, providing legal safeguards to prevent their illegal export via Yunnan. Throughout the year, 151 precursor chemical-related criminal cases were solved, and 1,427.4 tons of various precursor chemicals were seized, representing a decrease of 47.8% and an increase of 52% respectively. However, as chemical smuggling routes continued to diversify and methods evolved, chemical control faced greater challenges.

　　III. Drug Trafficking
　　Chinese drug control authorities have maintained a tough stance against drug-related crimes, advancing special operations such as "Clearing Source and Cutting Flow" "Drug Lords Hunt in Xiang-E (brief for Hunan and Hubei provinces)" and "Hunting Sword - Black Warrior," striving to crack major cases, dismantle criminal gangs, destroy networks, block trafficking routes, arrest kingpins, and confiscate illicit proceeds. Throughout the year, 29,000 cases of drug smuggling, trafficking, and transportation were solved, 54,000 suspects were arrested, and 17.5 tons of drugs were seized, representing respective decreases of 11% and 2.8% and an increase of 20.4%.
　　- Cross-border and inter-provincial drug trafficking remained active. A total of 656 smuggling cases were solved throughout the year, with 5.5 tons of drugs seized, representing respective increases of 2.2% and 30%. The number of foreign nationals involved in drug smuggling and trafficking increased significantly, with 249 foreign nationals arrested, mostly from Myanmar and Vietnam, marking a 29.7% increase. Drug-related crimes involving Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Province of China also rose sharply, with 187 related cases solved and 5 tons of drugs seized, representing respective increases of 18.3% and 56%.
　　- Large-scale drug trafficking remained a serious issue. A total of 184 cases involving trafficking of more than 10,000 grams of drugs were solved, down 15.6% year-on-year, but 15.8 tons of drugs were seized, up 24.4%. The average amount of drugs seized per case increased dramatically by 47%, reflecting a trend of fewer cases but larger quantities involved. Large trucks carrying bulk drugs across border checkpoints and ports in southwestern regions remained common, while maritime smuggling of large quantities of drugs toward southeastern regions was even more pronounced. These were often organized by cross-border or international trafficking groups transporting bulk drugs from the "Golden Triangle" region, South America, or other Southeast Asian countries to China’s Hong Kong and Macau SARs or other nations.
　　- Land and sea routes remained the primary channels for drug trafficking. A total of 22,000 land-based drug trafficking cases were solved, with 11.8 tons of drugs seized, representing respective decrease of 11.3% and increase of 33%. Eighteen maritime drug trafficking cases were solved, with 4.3 tons of drugs seized, down 43.8% and up 37.8% respectively. A total of 1,512 postal route drug trafficking cases were solved, with one ton of drugs seized. Fewer cases were solved and smaller amounts seized via rail and air transport.
　　- Drug trafficking methods changed rapidly. Criminals used overseas encrypted instant messaging tools such as Telegram to coordinate their activities, communicating through coded language and euphemisms to avoid detection. Drug payments have become increasingly difficult to trace. Based on online group guarantees and virtual payment transactions, drug funds were transferred across multiple accounts, currencies, and blockchain networks. Methods of concealing and transporting drugs continued to evolve, with drug deliveries often conducted through non-contact means, such as separating the person from the goods, significantly increasing the concealment and secrecy of drug trafficking activities.

　　Conclusion
　　Against the backdrop of a worsening global drug situation, China remains in a period marked by heightened risks of drug-related crime, rapid evolution of new psychoactive substances, and ongoing consolidation and expansion of governance achievements. It can be expected that drug control efforts will continue to face many challenges in the foreseeable future. China’s drug control authorities will continue to demonstrate strong responsibility and dedication, and faithfully fulfill their duties by closely assessing the new dynamics and trends in the drug situation, focusing on preventing major drug-related risks, advancing the "Clearing Source and Cutting Flow" campaign, prioritizing the governance of new psychoactive substances, continuously improving the drug control system, and deepening the people’s war against drugs. These efforts will contribute to building a powerful modern China and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.（Source：NNCC, China）■