Police forces of China and the United States have jointly smashed an international drug smuggling group, the Information Office of China's State Council announced in Beijing yesterday.
As of Wednesday, the unprecedented cooperation had resulted in the arrest of 28 people and the seizure of 40.2 kg of heroin, 80 grams of "ice" drug or crystal methamphetamine, and 35 kg of ephedrine, said Yang Fengrui, director of the Narcotics Bureau under the Ministry of Public Security.
"Anti-drugs forces on both sides have made great breakthroughs in terms of sharing information, making joint investigations, exchanging evidence and coordination," said Yang.
"The good coordination is important in cooperation between drug-fighting forces on both sides," said Yang.
So far, police on the Chinese mainland had arrested 10 people in provinces of Fujian, Guangdong and Yunnan and seized 36 kg of heroin, 80 grams of "ice" drug and 200 grams of half-produced "ice," said Yang.
On May 16 when the joint operations started, the US side arrested 11 suspects and confiscated 4.2 kg of heroin in New York and other places.
Law enforcement agents in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region also conducted investigations into the drugs group and two suspects were arrested.
(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2003)
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