A Chinese "ice" kingpin went on trial again on Monday, accused of manufacturing 17.06 tons of methamphetamine, after prosecutors brought up new evidence to suggest the previous charge was underestimated.

The 50-year-old Chen Bingxi was firt brought to the court in last February for producing 12.36 tons of methamphetamine, according to Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court in southern Guangdong province, where both of Chen's cases were heard.

Chen also faced charges of drug trafficking and transporting.

Prosecutors renewed their investigation as Chen's major fugitive accomplice Liu Zhaohua was caught and tried. Liu's probe revealed evidences suggesting that Chen produced more drugs than he was charged of.

Police in Guangdong found that 4.7 tons of "ice" missing from the charge had been sold. Profits were split between Chen and Liu, prosecutors told the court on Monday.

In less than 10 months, the two allegedly produced huge amount of "ice" in a pesticide plant in Yinchuan, capital of northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and drugs were then transported to the southern Guangdong province for sale, prosecutors said.

Police busted Chen's drug ring in November 1999, after they found large amount of "ice" hidden in a warehouse in Guangzhou. Chen fled to Thailand but was brought back in 2003.

Chen Baoyu, Chen's wife, stood on trial along side with her husband as accomplice on Monday.

China had 720,400 drug addicts, according to latest official statistics.

Source: Xinhua