Drug-related crimes in China have shown an overall downward trend over the past decade, said China's Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Monday, ahead of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which will fall on Thursday.
In 2024, courts across the country concluded 35,859 drug-related cases in the first instance. From January to May 2025, 9,343 such cases were concluded in the first trials, representing a 29.31 percent year-on-year decrease, according to the SPC.
The SPC emphasized that courts at all levels have kept taking a tough stance and strict enforcement against drug crimes. "We focus particularly on severely punishing upstream drug crimes such as smuggling, manufacturing, and large-scale trafficking in accordance with the law, as well as criminals involved in armed protection of drugs or violent resistance to law enforcement. Ringleaders of drug-related criminal organizations, principals, and repeat offenders, as well as drug owners, financiers, and recruiters behind drug operations, face severe penalties, including long prison terms or the death penalty for those involved in serious circumstances, in accordance with the law," said Li Ruiyi, member of the Supreme People's Court Judicial Committee and head of the Fifth Criminal Division, at the press briefing.
In 2024, a total of 49,177 defendants were convicted in drug-related crimes with legally effective verdicts, among whom 8,332 received sentences of five years or above, with the proportion of heavy sentences standing at 16.94 percent. From January to May 2025, the heavy sentences proportion rose to 19.51 percent, about 12 percentage points higher than the average for all criminal cases in the same period.
In addition, the court emphasized economic sanctions to crack down on drug crimes.
"We are placing greater emphasis on economic sanctions, making full use of property penalties, and intensifying efforts to confiscate assets related to drug crimes. By cutting off financial resources, we aim to undermine the economic foundation of drug offenders' recidivism," said Li.
China sees less drug-related crimes over past decade
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
