The leader of a gang allegedly involved in what is believed to be the world's biggest "ice" trafficking case, Chen Bingxi, appeared in court in Guangzhou on Monday to face new drug charges against both he and his wife.

The couple denied the new charges springing from a separate case to which prosecutors have linked them. The court has not yet ruled on the new charges.

Chen, together with his wife, Chen Baoyu and seven other accomplices, first appeared in court on March 23 last year to face charges of illegally producing and trafficking 12.36 tons of methamphetamine. The street name for the drug is 'ice'.

Prosecutors on Monday attempted to add to these charges and accused Chen and his wife of involvement in another trafficking operation. The new charges don't involve their alleged accomplices in the previous case.

Prosecutors told the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court that Chen and his wife had illegally manufactured and trafficked more than 5.7 tons of ice between 1999 and 2002. They linked the couple to drug charges involving a combined 18.06 tons of the drug.

The new weight for the amount of drugs involved is based on evidence that has emerged in a separate case. This involves a man named Liu Zhaohua, 41. Liu is accused of producing 18.075 tons of ice in the late 1990s. This is roughly the same amount of the drug seized around the whole world each year.

Liu's trial was in June but the court has yet to rule on his case. He remains in police custody in Guangzhou. According to prosecutors Chen worked closely with Liu in the drug trade.

From January to October 1999 it's alleged Liu was in charge of manufacturing at least 17 tons of ice in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Chen allegedly trafficked some of the drug made by Liu to south China's Guangdong Province, according to prosecutors. His wife is accused of "harboring illegal money raised from the sale of drugs."

(China Daily December 6, 2006)