To block drugs from coursing into the city, Beijing police authority will dispatch drug-sniffing dogs to the country's most vital lines, including customs, airports and subway stations, starting from June 26, International Anti-Drug Day.

The information was revealed by the Anti-drug office of the Beijing Public Security Bureau as they destroyed a whole batch of drugs in public on Sunday.

Police authorities have listed Wanzi (Xuanwu district), Wanquanshi (Fengtai District) and Weigongcun (Haidian District) as Beijing's three main black markets in drugs, and are determined to eradicate drugs in all those places.

According to officials with the Anti-drug office, they have already targeted their efforts by focusing mainly on individual drug dealers or drug trafficking networks underground. Those who buy drugs from the market, once detected, will have the urine extracted from them as part of a stringent examination. To prevent the black market from bouncing back, buildings, including unlicensed restaurants, found to be violating the rules, acting as sites for drug dealing, will be ordered to be shut down. Professionals will also be assigned to those places to patrol them.

Regarding the spot checks to be carried out in the city's main terminals, it is said that all dogs used will have been specially trained. They can sniff out drugs even when the drugs have been ingeniously hidden. They will assist the railway station department, watch and sniffing all trains arriving in Beijing from Guangdong and Yunan provinces, where the illegal drugs trade is quite active.

Reportedly, since the start of last year, the police authority in Beijing has dealt with 542 cases of drug-related crimes and confiscated over 60 kilograms of drugs.

In the last year, the authority has handed out awards worth 300, 000 yuan in total. It encourages local residents to report anyone using drugs in public places. They will get an award if the case is verified as true.

(CRI June 5, 2007)