In coordination with police from Thailand and Myanmar and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United States, Chinese police and customs officers from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong recently cracked down on a large cross-border drug trafficking ring, confiscating 357 kilograms of heroin and arresting 13 suspected drug smugglers.

Under the unified command and coordination of the Ministry of Public Security, an international anti-drug campaign was carried out between April 5 and 10 to seize drugs hidden in timber to be transported to Hong Kong from Shenzhen in Guangdong Province and Simao in Yunnan Province, said a ministry press release yesterday.

Early in January, police in Yunnan's Simao were informed that a drug-trafficking group, headed by Xu Lianke, Shao Siguo, Wang Zuguan and Thailand's Paiboon, were smuggling heroin in large quantities by concealing it in holes dug in timber.

The drug-trafficking route started in Myanmar and went through Yunnan and Guangdong provinces, ending in Hong Kong.

After consulting with police, customs and drug fighting departments in related countries, the China National Narcotic Control Commission (CNNCC) decided to launch a joint action to crack down on the group by sharing information and expertise, it said.

On March 30, a conference was held in Shenzhen by police and customs authorities from the mainland and Hong Kong and the USDEA to discuss a detailed operation plan.

On April 5, Chinese police followed a truck loaded with drugs from Foshan to Shenzhen and arrested drug-trafficker Hu Yuguang, seizing 70 kilograms of heroin. At the same time, police in Yunnan stopped a second truck carrying drugs and confiscated 286.95 kilograms of heroin.

After this, the ministry informed corresponding departments in Thailand, the United States and Hong Kong to arrest the drug-traffickers at large.

By April 10, a total of 13 drug dealers were caught in China, Thailand and Myanmar, and all the suspects have been sent to China for further investigation.

China's public security authorities launched a nationwide campaign starting in early February with the aim of slashing the production, trafficking and use of drugs.

During the first quarter of the year, Chinese police confiscated a total of 200,000 tablets of ice, 247 kilograms of ecstasy and 484 tons of chemicals used in producing drugs, as well as shutting down 10 illegal drug processing factories, according to CNNCC.

(China Daily May 10, 2002)