Police shot dead two suspected drug traffickers in this southern city of Shenzhen after the pair used daggers to attack officers raiding their home.

The incident happened on Wednesday morning.

Police said they conducted a drug raid at the apartment in the Longgang district following a tip they received on Sunday.

They found 1 kg of methamphetamine hydrochloride - commonly known as Ice - and 280,000 yuan ($41,200) in cash.

Officers surrounded the building and two policemen broke into the apartment at about 6:00 am.

The two alleged traffickers, both surnamed Lin and aged 30 and 31, attacked the officers with daggers, said police.

One of the policemen sustained an injury in his left arm and both officers drew their weapons and fired warning shots into the apartment's walls. Police said the suspects refused to surrender and they died from wounds in the head and chest.

Local procurators conducted an investigation and determined that the shootings were legal. Both officers received psychological counseling after the incident.

The raid was part of a 100-day crackdown by the Longgang district public security bureau on criminal activity in the suburbs of Shenzhen, which has more serious security issues than many major cities.

(China Daily May 1, 2009)