Chinese authorities last month intercepted 430kg (948lbs) of cocaine aided by tip-offs by the United States, indicating possible progress on the issue following an agreement on counternarcotics cooperation reached by the leaders of the two countries in October.
The drugs were found inside an international container at Yantian port in Shenzhen, southern China, on November 26, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Tuesday. The case is under investigation and no other details were given.
Drug control has emerged as a rare field of progress in US-China cooperation amid tensions on other fronts in recent years. The issue is especially important to Washington, with US President Donald Trump on Monday declaring illicit fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction.
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Earlier this month, China said narcotics control authorities in both countries had been steadily “advancing joint anti-drug efforts and achieving notable results”.
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US, China join forces to counter global fentanyl trade
US, China join forces to counter global fentanyl trade
China’s Ministry of Public Security said on December 6 that the two sides had worked on multiple cases together and maintained “close communication”, including holding video conferences, exchanging progress updates and discussing major areas for future cooperation.
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“China will cooperate with the US on the basis of equality and mutual respect to jointly tackle the prominent global drug issue,” it said.