Ecstasy-Like Chinese Drug Seized in France

French customs have smashed a ring smuggling the new 4-MEC synthetic drug and seized 52 kilos (115 pounds) of the Ecstasy-like stimulant sent from China, officials said Friday.

"This is the first time this kind of product has been seized in France," customs spokesman David Cugnetti told journalists in the eastern city of Lyon of the drug that is so new it is not yet illegal.

The drug, full name 4-Methylethcathinone, was to be prepared in France and sold on to Eastern Europe and "English-speaking" countries for 10 Euros (14 dollars) a gram, Cugnetti said.

He pointed out that there were as yet no reports of the amphetamine being consumed in French night clubs.

French customs intercepted two packages at Lyon airport on February 5 following a tip-off from their Belgian colleagues. Further quantities of the drug, also from China, were seized in subsequent raids.

Five people considered bit players in the operation were briefly detained pending an investigation.

Cugnetti said that prosecutions involving the drug, which he said is to be made illegal in coming months, could be made based on the fact that it has not been approved by French health authorities.

Distributing unapproved drugs can carry a 10-year jail sentence and a heavy fine.