The Beijing police yesterday announced the progress of its summer anti-drugs campaign, revealing the city's biggest drug trafficking case since the founding of New China in 1949.

In the biggest case, two women, Ma Xiuqin and Zhang Ganiang from Northwest China's Gansu Province, were seized by police on July 2 in Beijing with 13.2 kilograms of heroin and illicit funds of 120,000 yuan (US$14,450).

Ma has been dealing in drugs in Beijing since the end of 2002. In June of this year, she sold 20 kilograms of drugs in the capital, said the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Public Security.

And in June, Ma sent a total of 3 million yuan (US$362,000) to her boss in Gansu.

Zhang Ganiang had already served five years in prison for drug trafficking. Since she was released from prison in April, she has been in Beijing assisting her partner-in-crime Ma.

Since the beginning of the campaign in early May, the Beijing police have cracked down on 620 drug-related cases, arresting more than 640 people and seizing 21 kilograms of various drugs.

Meanwhile, another 65 cases, including theft, robbery and homicide by drug users have also been dealt with by the police.

In Xuanwu District of Beijing, seven suspects were caught red-handed with 5,475 grams of heroin and 1,000 grams of ice by police on June 16.

At the same time, four guns and 29 bullets were found by police in Fengtai District during the process of fighting a gang of hoodlums who also had 230 ecstasy tablets.

And in Chaoyang District in Beijing, another group of drug users and sellers was caught by police with 322 grams of ice and 812 ecstasy tablets.

The Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau will now issue weekly reports on the public security situation and the latest developments in the fight against crime, said Ma Zhenchuan, director of the bureau.

In another development, the final round of the Beijing police second technical ability competition will be held from July 21 to August 30.

A total of 5,327 policemen from 53 departments of the bureau will attend the competition which will have 31 parts, including rescuing hostages, fire fighting and use of foreign languages.

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