Update: China places all nitazenes, 12 other NPS under narcotic control

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- China has included all nitazenes and 12 other kinds of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on its list of controlled drugs, the Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission said at a press conference on Thursday.

The move is aimed at strengthening supervision and efforts to crack down on the substances, and to prevent the spread of drug abuse, according to the office.

The inclusion of all nitazenes on the list marks another innovation in drug control in the world, following the previous addition of all fentanyl-related and all synthetic-cannabis-related substances, said Shan Yehua, deputy head of the office, calling the move "significant" in curbing crime related to these substances and other new-type narcotics.

To address the harm and potential risks posed by NPS, the commission has established a comprehensive drug abuse monitoring system and a sound regulatory legal framework for bringing such substances under control.

Since bringing 46 NPS under control in July 2024, through drug abuse monitoring, the office found that new substitutes have emerged for the nitazenes and other substances listed last year, which have caused abuse-related harm.

The control of NPS is a common challenge faced by countries around the world, and it cannot be resolved by the efforts of a single country and requires global cooperation, Shan said.

"We are willing to work together with the international community to actively address this global challenge by contributing China's solutions and China's wisdom," she added.

Also at the press conference, the office said that from January 2024 to May 2025, Chinese police seized a total of 45.2 tonnes of illegal drugs.

In 2024, police solved 37,000 drug-related cases and arrested 62,000 suspects. From January to May this year, a total of 17,000 individuals were apprehended in connection with 11,000 drug-related cases.

As of the end of May, China had 710,000 registered illegal drug users. In 2024, police identified 193,000 individuals involved in drug use, with 59,000 newly recorded between January and May of this year, according to the office.

Wei Xiaojun, executive deputy director of the office and head of the Ministry of Public Security's narcotics control bureau, said at the press conference that China's drug problem remains generally under control.

The official added that combating emerging synthetic drugs is a key focus of the country's anti-drug efforts. ■