China arrests seven in crackdown on fentanyl networks

The ​official Xinhua news agency said a special campaign in the central province of Hubei resulted in 22 cases of crimes involving precursor chemicals for fentanyl.

The operation, targeting the entire supply chain, ⁠from production to storage and export ‌of ​such chemicals, was launched in December after a directive from ​the public security ‌ministry, the agency added.

After taking office, US President Donald Trump ​cited China's inaction when imposing tariffs of 20 per cent, halved since he met counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea ​last ​year, in exchange for a ​crackdown on the fentanyl networks.

News of ‌China's first widely-publicised legal action in years leading to arrests of traffickers follows weekend trade talks with the United States to prepare for a March-end summit of the leaders in Beijing, ​postponed for now by the war in Iran.