In a significant blow to international narcotics trade, law enforcement authorities from the Chinese mainland and the United States have successfully collaborated to crack a major transnational criminal case involving the trafficking of new psychoactive substances.
The joint operation, spearheaded by the narcotics control bureau of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and the US Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Administration, began as a coordinated investigation in 2024. This partnership culminated in high-profile arrests earlier this year. In February 2026, police in Tianjin, on the Chinese mainland, arrested a suspect surnamed Gong, acting on critical intelligence provided by US authorities. Simultaneously, an American suspect linked to the same operation was apprehended in the US state of Georgia.
The MPS stated that the resolution of this case reflects an institutionalized approach to anti-drug law enforcement cooperation between the two nations, showcasing a practical and coordinated effort to dismantle cross-border criminal networks. This victory underscores a shared, zero-tolerance stance toward drug-related crimes that threaten global public health and security.
This success follows a pattern of recent cooperation. Earlier this month, the MPS revealed that another joint operation in April successfully dismantled a drug smuggling channel. This synchronized effort involved raids across the US states of Florida and Nevada, as well as the Liaoning and Guangdong provinces on the Chinese mainland, resulting in the arrest of five suspects and the seizure of a substantial batch of narcotics.
The broader crackdown on the illegal sale of precursor chemicals and new psychoactive substances has intensified in recent years. According to data released by the MPS earlier this month, nationwide efforts since 2025 have led to the cracking of 29 related criminal cases and the arrest of 157 suspects, signaling a rigorous commitment to eradicating synthetic drug networks.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
