Industry standard

Liu, from the CNNCC, said judicial authorities, including the Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Supreme People's Court are working on issuing updated regulations and judicial interpretations on the handling of fentanyl-related cases. These include standardizing filing, charging and sentencing for drug crimes.

The authorities will speed up setting up a drug library and developing equipment for the quick screening of fentanyl. They will also draft an industry standard for examining and identifying substances linked to the drug.

Zhao Zhengda, lawyer from Yingke Law Firm in Beijing, said, "The introduction of control measures and updated regulations will provide a solid legal basis for the authorities to identify and effectively crack down on fentanyl-related drug crimes.

"Law enforcement officers will severely punish those involved in fentanyl smuggling and trafficking, and show no mercy."