China restricts deadly elephant tranquilizer carfentanil
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The Chinese police seize fentanyl substances in July, 2015 during the first case of fentanyl trafficking in the country. [Photo: customs.gov.cn]

China is to restrict the deadly elephant tranquilizer carfentanil and three related opioids from the beginning of next month.

The four "new psychoactive substances", namely, carfentanil, Furan fentanyl, Acrylamide fentanyl, and oxalyl fentanyl, are also known as lab drugs that are potent enough to prove fatal in small doses.

Deng Ming, deputy director from China's anti-drug office, said among the drugs, carfentanil is particularly potent.

"Carfentanil is a typical fentanyl substance and is capable of medicating pain. It's 1,000 times more potent than morphine, able to kill an adult with two milligrammes. It's more powerful than other fentanyl varieties," said Deng.

Carfentanil has also been used as a chemical weapon and described as a terrorist threat.

US has accused China of being the top source of fentanyls in North America, but the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration called the current ban a potential "game-changer" that is likely to reduce supply of key chemicals driving a surge of overdoses and deaths among unsuspecting drug users.

The process of the action only cost four months, while similar cases can take nine months. The high efficiency, according to an AP report, is partly due to the pressure from the US.

Domestically, the abuse of fentanyl is not wide yet on rise in China, with 22 instant products seized by the police in entertainment venues in Yunnan, Hubei, and Liaoning provinces throughout 2016.

People dealing with the new psychoactive substances are usually professionals with knowledge in medicine, chemistry, and even international law, which makes it difficult to combat drug trafficking in this regard.

To handle the challenge, the anti-drug office said they will establish a national standard substance bank to collect information and help people identify new psychoactive substances.

Up to now, China has restricted 134 kinds of the new psychoactive substances.

Author： 　　　Source：CRI　　　 Editor：Yang Fan