Chinese Internet companies sign pact against drugs

China's Internet businesses and telecommunication operators signed a pact vowing "zero tolerance" to drug-related violations on Monday.

The protocol, released by the Internet Society of China and nine governmental agencies, including the national anti-drug commission and the Cyberspace Administration of China, called on all online service providers and Internet users to be self-disciplined and keep away from drug-related violations online. It is the first of its kind.

At the release ceremony of the pact, China's three major telecommunication operators-- China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom-- joined more than 50 major Chinese Internet enterprises and five courier services to sign a letter of commitment against drugs.

Police have solved 14,878 drug-related violations and captured 32,871 suspects in a campaign targeting online drug crimes since April, according to Hu Minglang, head of the anti-drug bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.

The police also seized about 3.37 tonnes of drugs of various kinds, 9.51 tonnes of precursor chemicals and 225 guns in their anti-drug raid, Hu said.

During the campaign, 832 websites and more than 5.7 million Internet accounts have been closed and more than 83,000 pieces of illegal information were cleansed.

Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Yuejin said at Monday's ceremony that to fight against drugs and create a drug-free Internet is a common obligation of all Internet business operators and Internet users.

He also pledged more coordinated moves among different governmental agencies to combat drugs. Endi