Thirteen people were arrested, and more than 1.7 tons of ice and 14 million yuan (US$2 million) were seized following raids two months ago on two drug production bases and a warehouse in Guangdong and Fujian provinces, the Guangdong public security department announced yesterday.

The drug "factory" in Guangdong is equipped with advanced facilities.

An anonymous officer from the department's publicity department, said joint raids were conducted in August in cooperation with public security officials from Fujian Province.

The drug "factory" in Guangdong was the most advanced and largest ice production facility ever uncovered in the province, he told China Daily yesterday.

The 4,000 sq m facility was registered to a chemical plant from the Pearl River Delta, he said.

No details were provided about the facility in Fujian province.

The gang purchased equipment and raw materials to produce ice via the Internet, and employed more than 10 workers around the country, the officer claimed, without elaborating.

"Guangdong police set up a task force to probe the case a year ago when we got a tip-off from the public," he said.

Police also seized 14 million yuan in cash, eight cars, two guns and more than 10 bullets, and assorted tools required to make drugs during the investigation, the officer said.

The success of the police in cracking the case was a major victory in the war on drugs in the region, he said.

He called for the ongoing support of the public in the "tough and long-term job of bringing drug producers and traffickers under control".

(China Daily October 28, 2008)