Chinese Capital Cracks down on Drug Abuse

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 ◆ Chinese Capital Cracks down on Drug Abuse

The Chinese capital is home to 23,000 registered drug addicts, including jobless people, students, lawyers, private entrepreneurs and government officials, according to the latest figures.

Officials of the city's anti-narcotics committee announced recently that since 1996, more and more local addicts have been infected with HIV, accounting for 65 percent of local HIV carriers.

This year local police launched a campaign against major drug dealers, especially rings that have collaborated with overseas traffickers.

By the end of May, the police had uncovered 580 drug cases and arrested over 600 suspects. They also dealt with over 1,450 drug-related criminal cases, arrested over 1,660 drug users, and seized over 200 kg of narcotics.

Meanwhile, the authorities have launched a series of programs to prevent drug abuse among young people and a crack-down on drug-related crimes in recreational places.