BEIJING, China – June 2020: New types and forms of drugs are emerging in China, including blotter paper soaked in LSD, pills containing methylphenidate, DMT (dimethyltryptamine), 2-Fluorodeschloroketamine, and synthetic cannabinoids, according to a recently launched report on the “Drug Situation in China (2019)”. The report also highlights the challenges posed by an increase in drug-related cybercrime cases, as online drug trafficking and delivery through express courier services become the ‘new normal’.

While China saw a decrease in the number of methamphetamine and ketamine drug users between 2018 and 2019, as well as in the number and scale of domestic clandestine laboratories dismantled, the report warns about a potential resurgence in domestic synthetic drug manufacturing due to strong market demand and high profit margins. The country further reported an increase in trafficking of methamphetamine and ketamine from the Golden Triangle.

Source: UNODC.

For more information, please see:

Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, Drug Situation in China (2019).

UNODC, Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia – Latest developments and challenges (May 2020).

UNODC, Global SMART Update Volume 22: The ATS market -10 years after the 2009 Plan of Action (October 2019).

UNODC, Current NPS Threats Volume II (January 2020).