{
  "id": 14108614,
  "title": "China busts ‘Breaking Bad’-style drug racket led by retired chemistry professor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/china-busts-breaking-bad-style-drug-racket-led-by-retired-chemistry",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T03:36:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-globally/china-breaking-bad-drug-network-etomidate-bust-10918877/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chinese officials have dismantled a cross-border drug smuggling organization led by a former chemistry professor and a chemist with a master's degree. The criminal group was responsible for producing precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of etomidate, a substance frequently found in \"zombie vapes\" - an e-cigarette product. Authorities uncovered the operation, which operated in China, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand, after noticing an unusual surge in demand for specific chemicals at a pharmaceutical company in Shandong province. The raid resulted in the arrest of 71 individuals and the seizure of 73 kilograms of etomidate, along with five tonnes of active ingredients and laboratory equipment. The case bears similarities to the American television series \"Breaking Bad\", a crime drama about a chemistry teacher who becomes involved in drug manufacturing. The investigation began in 2024 when police noticed the pharmaceutical company's unnatural purchases of chemicals to produce etomidate. The investigation revealed that Huang, a chemist with a master's degree, had been selling e-cigarettes in Shenzhen for only three months before resigning. Huang was suspected of procuring these chemicals to manufacture etomidate. During the course of the investigation, Huang's frequent trips to Shenzhen and Zibo were discovered. Wu, a retired chemistry professor, was identified as the mastermind. Wu allegedly designed the manufacturing process and used his connections to secure laboratory space in factories across five Chinese cities. The chemicals were transported in small quantities through an international logistics company owned by Wang, another suspect. The gang is believed to have manufactured precursor chemicals in China and then shipped them to Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, where they were converted into the final product to reduce legal risks in China. The police dismantled the entire network simultaneously to gather enough evidence for prosecution. The dismantling of the network's seven bases in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand led to the arrests and seizures.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Nikkei Asia",
        "title": "South Korea's HiteJinro to make Japanese peer Kirin's beer at home",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/south-koreas-hitejinro-to-make-japanese-peer-kirins-beer-at-home",
        "published": "2026-10-12T13:00:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW English (Top Stories)",
        "title": "Can South Korea and Ukraine resolve their diplomatic spat over North Korean POWs?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/can-south-korea-and-ukraine-resolve-their-diplomatic-spat-over-north",
        "published": "2026-10-12T13:10:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily NK",
        "title": "North Korean vessels cash in on drug runs between Southeast Asia and China",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/north-korean-vessels-cash-in-on-drug-runs-between-southeast-asia-and",
        "published": "2026-10-12T17:07:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}