China plans to enhance its monitoring network for drug related crimes with the country's first anti-drug bill which was introduced in its legislature on Tuesday.

The bill sets strict rules over the clinical use of narcotics and other chemicals and medicines that could be used to make illegal drugs.

Regular checks will be required during the production, sale and use of sensitive clinical medicines. The bill stipulates that farms that grow medicines and warehouses that store them will be under state guard.

The bill also requires owners and managers of discos, bars, and night clubs, to post anti-drug signs in prominent places inside the venues and to report drug takers to the police.

The bill will also authorize police to search people and their luggage for illegal drugs at key public places such as train stations, long-distance bus stations and border crossings.

"It is important to introduce such a law as China is now facing a grave situation in drug control," said Zhang Xinfeng, vice minister of public security, in a brief to lawmakers of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress.

China is experiencing an increase in drug trafficking flowing from the Golden Triangle, an area located in countries along the Mekong Rive delta including Myanmar and Laos, and the Golden Crescent area in western Asia.

Zhang said drugs from the Golden Triangle are "pouring" into China, posing a great threat to China's drug control efforts.

Police estimate that China has more than 700,000 heroin addicts.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2006)