16,600 suspects arrested during drug trade crackdown

Police authorities nationwide uncovered 14,000 drug–related cases, arrested 16,600 suspects, and seized 6.92 tons of drugs, between Jan 24 and March 15, the National Narcotics Control Commission said in a statement on Thursday.

The commission said the country is facing "a tough task to fight against drugs" particularly from the international drugs trade.

Official figures show there were two million registered drug addicts in the country at the end of 2012 and an average of 100,000 youngsters were falling into drug use each year.

On Jan 24, the commission launched a two-month national anti-drugs campaign.

During the campaign, the police targeted people selling drugs on the streets and at major entertainment venues.

By March 15, the national crackdown had resulted in 9,068 cases involving drug selling, with 10,040 arrests made. 6,340 entertainment clubs had been investigated and 212 criminal drug gangs smashed.

The commission figures showed that police were given 2,083 tip-offs from the public related to possible drug crime, and the Ministry of Public Security has now set up a special mailbox on its website which is open to the public to report drug crime.