China has reportedly uncovered a 430 kg cocaine smuggling operation in cooperation with the United States. This achievement comes in the wake of heightened US-China tensions over the synthetic drug fentanyl.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are leaving the meeting room after concluding the US-China summit on October 30 at Naraemaru Protocol Hall, Busan Gimhae Air Base. Photo by Yonhap News
According to Xinhua News Agency on the 16th (local time), citing the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, Chinese narcotics authorities seized the cocaine after inspecting an international container at Yantian Port in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on November 26. The operation was based on information provided by the US side.
On the 5th, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security announced its intention to cooperate with the United States on key global narcotics issues based on the principles of equality and reciprocity. At the time, a spokesperson for the ministry stated that the narcotics authorities of both countries were faithfully implementing the consensus reached at the US-China summit held in Busan at the end of October, and that substantial results had been achieved through this cooperation.
Previously, US President Donald Trump identified China as a source of fentanyl precursors and imposed a 20% "fentanyl tariff." However, as a result of the October summit, the United States agreed to lower the tariff to 10%, while China pledged to strengthen measures to prevent fentanyl precursors from entering the US. On the 15th, President Trump also announced that fentanyl would be designated as a "weapon of mass destruction" (WMD).
Separately, Hong Kong Customs also seized 417 kg of suspected cocaine worth 256 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 48.6 billion won) last month. According to China News Service, Hong Kong Customs stated at a press conference that information analysis and risk assessment led them to identify an ocean-going vessel used for smuggling. They inspected a ship that had departed from Brazil and arrived in Hong Kong on the 5th of last month, seizing the suspected cocaine hidden in the vessel's intake at the bottom. Authorities noted that this was the first time such a method had been discovered, arrested two suspects, and announced that further investigations are underway.
Earlier, in South Korea, on the basis of information from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that a 32,000-ton bulk carrier was entering Okgye Port in Gangneung carrying suspected narcotics, the Coast Guard and customs authorities launched an operation in April and seized approximately 2 tons of cocaine.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
