From January to May this year, Guangdong police cracked a total of 5, 080 drug cases, arresting 6, 250 suspects and seizing 5.1 tons of drugs, Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department said today, June 20.
"The efforts on fighting against drug-related crime in Guangdong have achieved significant results," said Guo Shaobo, deputy director of the Guangdong Public Security Department.
"There has been a large drop in the number of drug production dens, and Guangdong is slowly shedding its status as a major drug distribution hub," he said. "The prices of crystal meth and K-powder (ketamine) have reportedly risen due to our crackdown."
Drug seized by Guangdong police.
However, Guo said combating such crime is a tough task in Guangdong, the focus of China's anti-drug campaign for many years. The province has more than 654,000 registered drug addicts, about one-sixth of the national total.
Among the cases, 11 foreign suspects, most of whom are Africans, were arrested in a marijuana trafficking case. 19.5 kilograms of marijuana and 250 marijuana plants were seized.
In February, a foreign marijuana trafficking gang whose major customers are international students, attracted police attention.
Drug seized by Guangdong police.
After a series of investigations, Guangdong police finally caught the gang in early May and meanwhile arrested 4 marijuana smokers. Among international students who had purchased marijuana from the gang, 6 tested positive for a urine test and were detained.
The police later seized other suspects as well as 4 kilograms of marijuana.
According to China’s Criminal Law, people taking drugs will be held in custody for 15 days and those addicted ones have to receive compulsory treatment.
Besides, the law also says that the punishment for producing, smuggling or trading drugs of more than 50 grams, such as heroin or meth, is a minimum of 15 years imprisonment.
Written by Abby
