This is a serious and rising problem, but one that is not limited just to South American drugs as many reports have shown in recent years.

For example, synthetic drugs from the Netherlands are exported worldwide, with China providing a significant portion of the laboratory equipment, raw materials and chemicals necessary for their production (opens pdf).

In 2021, one reports shows how Asian drug-trafficking networks operate in Europe:

[A] European Parliament report noted that Chinese criminal groups often collaborate with Dutch groups in the Netherlands supplying MDMA and meth precursors like piperonyl methyl ketone (PMK) and benzyl methyl ketone (BMK), respectively.

And more recently, an investigation reveals how China and Chinese mafias overseas protect each other’s interests:

The rise of Chinese organized crime in Europe highlights its ties to the Chinese state, national security officials say. Recent cases show the suspected role of mobsters in Beijing’s campaign to repress diaspora communities and amass influence.