Wuhan: A court in Wuhan, China, sentenced two men to prison for illegally trafficking controlled precursor chemicals abroad, state-run media reported Tuesday. A man surnamed Xia received a six-year prison term, while his son was sentenced to five and a half years for engaging in illegal operations.

According to Anadolu Agency, the court found that the father-son duo orchestrated the sale of 123 batches of controlled stimulant-related chemicals, which had an estimated value of about 1.69 million yuan ($250,717). The case was brought to the attention of Chinese authorities following a report by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to China's Ministry of Public Security in 2023, involving a related trafficking case concerning sensitive chemicals.

The sentencing highlights ongoing international collaboration in combating illegal drug operations. The involvement of the DEA underscores the global nature of drug trafficking challenges and the importance of cross-border cooperation in addressing them. The case serves as a reminder of China's efforts to tighten control over chemical substances that could potentially be used in illegal drug manufacturing.