Shanghai Railway Police said they cracked a major methamphetamine smuggling case on a train from Kunming on Tuesday, and a suspect was escorted to Shanghai for investigation yesterday.

Police said they seized 1,800 pills of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice drug, on the suspect surnamed Tang, during a routine check on the train Tuesday noon.

The seizure took place about half way to Shanghai. City railway police were responsible for security on that train.

Railway police spokesman Zhang Guangqi said they were still weighing the drug and calculating the value, but judging from the number of pills, it could be one of the largest drug cases cracked so far this year.

Train police officer Wang Jun became suspicious of Tang when he clutched a bag on his waist and trembled as he answered questions.

Police opened the bag and a small package sealed with orange ties fell out.

Tang allegedly said it only contained fabric samples.

However, Wang pierced the parcel with a knife and the carriage was soon filled with a distinctive odor, alerting him that it could be ice drugs.

Tang allegedly told police he was carrying the drugs to a village in Gaizhou, Liaoning Province. He planned to save a small portion for his own use, selling the rest for high profit.

(Shanghai Daily April 28, 2006)