Refer China: Woman Resells Sleeping Pills, Now Faces Drug Trafficking Retrial

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Woman Faces Retrial for "Drug Trafficking" After Reselling Unused Sleeping Pills

A Chinese woman accused of drug trafficking after reselling unused prescription sleeping pills is facing a retrial following an appeal.

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In January 2024, "Ma Linlin" (pseudonym) was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus encephalopathy. She was prescribed eight boxes of Stilnox (zolpidem tartrate) by the Shanghai Mental Health Center to treat insomnia.

By June, her condition improved and she gradually stopped taking the medication, leaving a surplus. Ma sold five boxes via an online second-hand platform to two buyers for 60 yuan each, earning 300 yuan. She said she was unaware the drug was a controlled substance and only wanted to avoid waste.

The case surfaced when a buyer in Zhejiang, surnamed Dong, reported the transaction to police. Chat records showed Dong mentioning "increasing dosage" and feeling "addicted." Ma said she assumed the buyer had similar medical needs and did not view the comments as a warning.

In December 2024, the trial court convicted Ma of selling and transporting controlled psychotropic substances, sentencing her to seven months in prison with a one-year-one-month suspended sentence. The court also confiscated the 300 yuan profit and ordered the destruction of the remaining pills.

Ma appealed. On July 30, 2025, the appellate court ruled that parts of the first trial's findings were unclear, overturned the verdict, and sent the case back for retrial.

Legal Risks of Reselling Prescription Drugs

According to Liu Ruishuang, Associate Director of the Department of Medical Ethics and Law at Peking University, selling prescription medication without authorization violates pharmaceutical regulations and can endanger public health. If misuse results in harm, sellers may face civil or criminal liability.

Reselling controlled substances—such as narcotics, psychotropics, or toxic drugs—poses even greater risks and may constitute drug trafficking under Chinese law.

Source: 央视新闻, 江苏新闻广播