China Seized 7,000 Kg of Drugs Last Year 　　Chinese border police seized more than 7,000 kg of drugs and arrested 1,253 people involved in such illegal activities last year. 　　Ministry of Public Security sources said that some 1,168 cases were handled and the drugs included 2,508 kg of heroin, 325 kg of opium, 195 kg of "ice", 4,400 kg of marijuana and other assorted drugs in addition to 48 tons of chemical materials that could be used to manufacture drugs. 　　They said that drug-related crime is rampant in southwest China's Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and is now sweeping into the eastern coastal regions. 　　Drug traffickers have various sophisticated ways of hiding their contraband such as in petrol tankers and even using human carriers who swallow plastic bags full of drugs which are later excreted or regurgitated. 　　Major incidents included one involving the smuggling of 133 kg heroin in a truck in Yunnan and of 4,400 kg of marijuana carried in boat in Guangdong. 　　Police have intensified their fight against drug trafficking by increasing the number of staff in the search squads, using more boats and boosting the frequency of patrols. 　　 HomeNews 1999-01-18 Page4 Full Story in Chinese