Chinese police have stepped up efforts to crack down on drug-related crimes with more than 36,400 cases brought to light and 45,100 suspects caught in the first 11 months of this year.

Police seized 4.79 tons of heroin, 1.52 tons of opium, 4.9 tons of crystallized methamphetamine (commonly known as "ice"), 329,000 tablets of ecstasy, 1.5 tons of ketamine and 267.5 tons of chemicals used to produce drugs from January to November, said Liu Yuejin, deputy director of the anti-narcotics bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, at a press conference here on Tuesday.

"We have been successful in this year's fight against drug-related crimes," said Liu.

"China invested 110 million yuan (13.75 million U.S. dollars) in 2006 to improve the anti-drug system in police, border, railway, aviation, customs and postal departments across China," Liu said.

During the anti-drug campaign, Chinese police focused on major international drug dealers and compiled a blacklist of 85 drug kingpins.

"Cooperation from authorities in Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, the Philippines and other countries helped us catch 50 major drug smugglers on the blacklist over the past two years," said Liu.

In 2006, Chinese police uncovered five international drug trafficking cases, seizing 550 kilograms of "ice", 1.5 tons of semi-manufactured "ice" products and 1 million tablets of ecstasy, and closed down three "ice" producing plants, according to Liu.

He said that trafficking of heroin, the traditional drug on China's market, had been largely brought under control, while "ice" and some new drugs began to fill the gap.

"We'll closely follow the new trend and change our focus," Liu said.

The "Golden Triangle" in the northern region of Myanmar is still the main source of drugs and poses the biggest menace to China. In addition, there is a growing threat of drug trafficking from the Golden Crescent region of central Asia, especially Afghanistan, according to Liu.

To fight against drug trafficking from the Golden Crescent region, China has beefed up border and airport checks in Xinjiang, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong.

Thirty-one drug smuggling cases from the Golden Crescent region were uncovered in the first 11 months of 2006, with 84 suspects and 84.56 kilograms of heroin seized, Liu said.

Yunnan and Guangdong provinces have the most serious problems in China, as Yunnan borders the "Golden Triangle" and Guangdong is a regional economic and logistics center, Liu said.

Chinese anti-drug police have strengthened their efforts in Guangdong this year, disabling 17 foreign drug trafficking gangs and capturing more than 30 foreign drug dealers, Liu said.

Chinese police have also conducted an anti-drug campaign aimed at recreation venues. In Beijing, nine entertainment venues were found to be selling drugs and shut down.

Beijing aims to eliminate drugs from all public places in 2007 and in all communities in 2008.

However, Liu also admitted that "the fight against drugs is a long-term, arduous, complicated task."

Source: Xinhua