A man has been sentenced to two years in prison for illegally dealing in nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,’’ by a Court in East China’s Zhejiang Province.

The Yunhe County people’s court said on Friday that the dealer, Yin, had no permit to deal in dangerous chemicals.

He purchased “laughing gas’’ from Taobao and WeChat stores from May to October in 2017.

The nitrous oxide is used in surgery for anaesthetic and pain reducing effects.

It is also used as food addictive.

Police seized 828 boxes of the gas in Yin’s home.

Investigation showed that he had sold 12,000 boxes for 300,000 yuan (about 47,000 U.S. dollars), and made profit of 30,000 yuan.

The court also fined him 50,000 yuan. (Xinhua/NAN)