A senior anti-drugs official told a press conference in Beijing
yesterday that, though a lot has been achieved, China has witnessed
an increase in both international supply of and domestic demand for
illicit drugs.
“Drug abuse is becoming more and more serious
throughout the country, with more supply channels and use,” said
Yang Fengrui, vice director with the office of the National
Narcotics Control Commission.
He listed the key challenges faced as follows:
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More drugs from the Golden Triangle.
According to a UN report, over 47,000 hectares of
the Golden Triangle were planted with opium poppy in 2004, with an
annual opium output of over 400 tons. Most of this was smuggled
into China. Meanwhile, methamphetamine (also known as ice or
crystal meth) trafficking has also increased in recent years.
In addition, the country’s northwest, northeast and
southeast ports have seen an increased inflow of drugs in recent
years. Last November, Guangzhou customs seized 469.4 kilograms of
ecstasy pills in one action.
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Production and sale of methamphetamine and ecstasy pills are
widespread in the coastal regions of southeastern China.
In 2004, the authorities cracked a total number of
1,121 smuggling, production, trafficking and trade cases, a
year-on-year increase of 77.4 percent. They seized 2.7 tons of
methamphetamine, down 52.9 percent on the previous year, of which
1.2 tons were from the Golden Triangle.
As the police strengthen vigilance in southeast
coastal areas, drug production is shifting inland and overseas.
China is seeing more drug production and trafficking cases
involving the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.
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Export and import of chemicals used to make narcotics.
At present, the government is working on Management
Measures on Chemical Products Used to Produce Narcotics and
Regulations on Narcotic and Psychotropic Drug Management. But
ingredients are still traded through illicit channels, stimulated
by domestic and overseas demand as well as huge profits.
In 2004, the government prevented 3,513 tons of
exports by engaging in international investigations.
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More drug users using more kinds of drugs.
By the end of 2004, the country had 791,000
registered drug users, up 6.8 percent on the previous year. Of
these, 679,000 were heroin users, accounting for 85.5 percent.
Registered users who were under 35 years old,
farmers and unemployed accounted for 70, 30, and 45 percent of the
total respectively.
The number of opium and heroin users is stable, but
recreational users of ecstasy and ketamine are increasing. Use of
cannabis, methamphetamine, pethidine and caffeine pills is
widespread in some areas.
Related: 33,975
Deaths Reported for Drug Addiction
24,000
Drug Cases Cracked in First Four Months
Battles
Won on Drugs, But War Rages On
(China.org.cn by Wang Zhiyong, May 27, 2005)