Shanghai police have detained 11 suspects from Sichuan Province, Chongqing Municipality and Shanghai for allegedly trafficking 13 kilograms of methamphetamine, or "ice," the city's public security authority said yesterday.

Hongkou District police were tipped off last June by local residents who said a local man surnamed Yu was dealing drugs. Officers observed Yu contacting another local man, surnamed Lu. Further investigation revealed that Yu and his wife had a stash of "ice," thought to be as large as three kilograms, in an apartment on Dalian Road W. in Hongkou District, police said.

On January 5, investigations led officers to believe drug dealers from Chengdu intended to transport seven kilograms of "ice" to Shanghai to sell to Lu. The next day, a suspect from Chengdu, plus Lu and his wife were allegedly caught in Lu's apartment in possession of 1.7 million yuan (US$248,618) in cash and 7 kilograms of "ice."

Investigations also led officers to an old prison-mate of Yu, surnamed Guo, who lived on Huanghua Road. Officers were tipped off that Guo would receive three kilograms of "ice" from Chongqing.

On February 21, a team of officers waited around a guesthouse on Jinhui Road where a Chongqing suspect surnamed Li was staying, while another team stayed near Guo's apartment. Guo allegedly sent an assistant to meet Li in a noodle store and then called Yu to come and finish the deal.

Yu was taken into custody hours after the trade. Three kilograms of "ice" were seized. Li was caught in the guesthouse with 600,000 yuan.

Officers then apprehended Guo, his girlfriend, and four associates, and found 200,000 yuan at their apartment.

(Shanghai Daily February 25, 2009)