Beijing ramps up crackdown on drug crimes

Despite a steady decrease in drug-related cases, Beijing has ramped up its crackdown on drug crimes, particularly focusing on new types of drugs, according to the city's high people's court.

In 2024, the capital's courts concluded 122 criminal cases of drugs, down 25 percent year-on-year. The figure also decreased by 91.5 percent compared to the peak in 2015, showcasing the effectiveness of drug control efforts citywide, the high court revealed.

Looking back at the cases from the past three years, it said that drug smuggling, trafficking, manufacturing and purchase were the most prevalent offenses, followed by enabling drug use and illegal drug possession.

The high court emphasized the importance of cracking down on new psychoactive substances in the fight against drugs, noting the continuous emergence of such substances leading to a rising number of secondary crimes.

Last year, for instance, Beijing judges found a significant increase in crimes involving cannabis extracts. Smuggling of "date rape" drugs into the country has also gone up, accounting for 20 percent of all cases. In addition, as cases related to the regulation of meprobamate and dextromethorphan emerged, the situation has become more complex.

While pledging to continue the intensified crackdown on drug-related crimes, the high court has urged judges to attach greater importance to new types of drugs, with stronger law education for the public, especially youngsters, to help them enhance legal awareness.