China seized 2,182.3 kilograms of "ice" (methamphetamines) from April to July, up 9.5 percent over the same period last year, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security said on Tuesday.

During those four months, authorities also seized more than 370,000 ecstasy pills, an increase of 54 percent over the same period in 2004, and shut down 27 underground factories producing methamphetamines and ecstasy, Liu Yuejin, deputy director of the narcotics control bureau under the ministry, said.

The Chinese government launched a nationwide "people's war" against drugs in April. Local public security bureaus and cultural, industrial and commercial departments strengthened their crackdown on drug taking and trafficking in entertainment venues, and seized a batch of drug users, Liu said.

From January to June, police in south China's Guangdong Province busted 206 entertainment venues that were hotbeds for drug use, arrested 1,917 drug users and 15 suspected drug traffickers, Liu added.

In addition, the province also closed down 44 entertainment places, ordered 37 others to halt business for rectification, and revoked the business licenses of eight.

In east China's Shandong Province, a special campaign dubbed "Summer Storm" was launched to eliminate drugs from public singing and dancing outlets. And in Chongqing Municipality, 29 suspected drug traffickers and users were taken into custody.

State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang in April urged all localities and departments concerned to launch a massive "people's war" against drugs, cut off the sources and channels of drug trafficking, and severely deal with drug-related crimes.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2005)