Chinese public security authorities have made "initial
achievements" in controlling narcotics since a nationwide campaign
was launched in early February with the aim of curbing the
production, trafficking and use of ice and ecstasy in entertainment
centers.
During the first quarter, Chinese police confiscated a total of
200,000 tablets of ice, 247 kilograms of ecstasy and 484 tons of
chemicals used in drug production, as well as shutting down 10
illegal drug processing factories, according to sources with the
National Narcotics Control Commission on Tuesday.
For example, early this month, after receiving a tipoff, police in
Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong Province, made a
sudden raid on a nightclub and arrested 25 drug suspects and
confiscated dozens of ecstasy tablets and quantities of other
drugs.
Statistics also indicate that the police conducted special
investigations for drugs in 21,388 public entertainment places in
medium and large cities, with 882 of them being told to close or
clean up their acts.
In
addition, during the first three months of this year, in 19,455
drug cases, the police arrested 21,231 suspects and seized 1,951
kilograms of heroin.
Trafficking in and using amphetamine-type stimulant drugs such as
ice and ecstasy have been common in many entertainment centers in
medium and large cities. At the same time, drug-related crimes have
increased dramatically since the early 1990s, said officials from
the commission.
The addicts, mainly youngsters with good incomes, take such drugs
in discos, bars, KTV rooms and dance halls, they pointed out.
Drugs are a grave menace to the health of people as well to the
stability of society.
On
January 31, a televised conference was held by the Ministry of
Public Security, kicking off a national campaign involving
unannounced checks of public places of entertainment.
Officials with the commission also point out that ignorance of the
danger of becoming addicted to drugs in some places has hampered
progress in the fight against drugs and the crackdown on
drug-related crimes.
During recent years, the Chinese Government has made great efforts
to combat drug abuse, as the nation is facing an ever-growing
scourge and more people are becoming addicted to drugs than ever
before.
(China
Daily April 25, 2002)