Anti-drug campaign targets nightclubs
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-10-18 15:31

Some 10,000 recreation venues in seven Chinese cities made a uniform pledge Sunday to fight against drugs, as China has seen a surge of narcotics and an increase of drug-users, especially in recreation venues like KTV clubs.

The seven cities are Beijing, Dalian, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Harbin, Wuhan and Urumqi.

At the launching ceremony in Beijing, representatives of the recreation venue owners promise to fight against drug with self-discipline, and not to permit any drug-related activities in their venues.

Working staffers with recreation venue found guilty in drug-related activities will be given severe penalty and officials in charge will also be punished, said Zhang Xinfeng, deputy director of the National Narcotics Control Commission.

China has been hard on anti-doping over the past decade and enacted an anti-doping law in March last year. Police on the mainland seized 2,182.3 kg of "ice" drug or "methamphetamines" from April to July, up 9.5 percent over the same period last year.

In Guangzhou alone, police seized 563 drug addicts in five nightclubs and one bar this year. Among them, 127 were detained, four were sent to drug rehab centers and 18 were fined.

The raids captured 209 tablets of ecstasy, 20 packages of K powders, four packages of cannabis and two weapons.

Police in Yuexiu District raided a nightclub on the Renmin Road Central on June 7 and the operation captured 83 clients and 16 attendants who seemed to have used drugs. The urine examination showed that 63 of them had used drugs. The club was suspended and the police bureau suggested the industry authorities to withdraw its business license.

On the same day, Liwan police raided a nightclub on the Dongfeng Road West where they seized 70 alleged drug users. The urine examination found 64 of them had used drugs, including four middle school students. The operation also found two pistols in the club. The club was closed immediately and the owner was detained.

A Sept. 15 operation on a nightclub also in Liwan District found 88 of all the 215 customers were drug users.