Italy seizes 6 tonnes of drug precursors from China.
The seizure of more than six tons of raw chemical materials from China by Italian authorities has raised concerns about the potential for the production of illicit narcotics on a large scale, with an estimated value exceeding 630 million euros ($678 million).
According to Italian police, the shipment was initially meant for a company based in Milan but was later redirected to an address in the Netherlands.
On July 1, Italian authorities announced the confiscation of 6.337 tonnes of Chinese chemicals, suspected to be used in the manufacturing of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy or molly.
The potential production from this seizure could result in over 63 million ecstasy pills, which could saturate the European synthetic drug market, according to Italy’s law enforcement agency, Guardia di Finanza.
Two Chinese nationals were arrested in the Netherlands, while an Italian businessman in Milan is under investigation, officials reported.
The shipment, intercepted at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, was initially claimed to contain polyester powder coating but was found to be PMK after lab analysis—a substance used in the production of ecstasy.
International cooperation through Eurojust facilitated further investigations in the Netherlands, leading to the discovery and seizure of quantities of ketamine and marijuana, along with the arrest of Chinese nationals.
In Varese, Italy, Financial Police intercepted a second shipment containing over 2,124 kilograms of BMK, utilized in the production of amphetamines and methamphetamines, two prevalent illicit drugs in the European Union.
Additionally, authorities found 4,213 kilograms of PMK at the importer’s warehouse.
In March, Italy initiated a national plan to prevent the misuse of synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, a substance significantly more potent than heroin and morphine.
In the U.S., there have been efforts to combat the flow of fentanyl, a drug considered the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 49, according to a report.
A congressional report released in April alleges that China’s communist regime funds the production of illegal opioid analogs, shipped in large quantities to the U.S.
Italian and U.S. authorities have taken significant steps to address the opioid crisis, including holding Chinese entities and individuals accountable for trafficking precursor chemicals into the United States.
