China's Yunnan seizes 95 tonnes of drugs over past 5 yrs

Police in southwest China's Yunnan Province have seized 94.7 tonnes of drugs over the past five years, local authorities announced at a meeting held Tuesday.

During a five-year campaign against drugs and AIDS, local police uncovered 95,000 drug cases and detained 102,000 drug traffickers.

Police in Yunnan seized 80 percent of all heroin and 90 percent of all crystal methamphetamine confiscated nationwide.

In joint crackdowns with neighboring countries, they also raided four crystal meth production plants and seized 4.2 tonnes of crystal meth overseas.

A total of 229,000 drug users, or 90 percent of all users, have received government-funded compulsory drug rehabilitation therapy over the past five years.

Local authorities also said the HIV infection rates among drug takers and prostitutes have markedly declined.

Despite the progress, the local government said it is facing a more complicated situation, including rising infection risks spreading from high-risk groups.

At the meeting, local authorities launched the fourth round of their campaign against drugs and AIDS.

Yunnan is among the Chinese regions most affected by drug use, due to its proximity to the opium-growing Golden Triangle in neighboring Southeast Asia. It is also a source of domestic drugs. Endi