Procuratorial authorities in Guangdong have vowed to work closely with local social security and customs departments to crack down on illegal drug trading by foreigners.

According to official figures, the Guangdong Provincial People's Procuratorate approved the arrests of 102 foreigners involved in 75 drug-trading cases in the first half of the year, up 316.7 percent on the same period last year.

Cai Meiyan, an official with the Guangdong procuratorial authority, said: "The province has become a hub for illegal drug trading by foreigners in recent years because of its special geographical position, neighboring Hong Kong and Macao.

"So, it is very urgent for us to work more closely with customs and public security departments to crack down on drug smuggling by foreigners."

Cai said drug smuggling has become the most serious illegal activity involving foreigners in Guangdong.

Drug trading cases accounted for more than 58 percent of all illegal activities by foreigners last year, he said, adding that both drug smuggling and trafficking cases has seen a dramatic rise over the past two years.

"The criminals have developed better techniques for trading drugs, such as heroin and bhang (cannabis). In most cases, they hide the drugs on their bodies, as they try to enter or leave Guangdong," Cai said.

Most of the foreigners involved in drug crimes are from less-developed countries such as Nigeria, Pakistan, Ghana, Thailand and Iran. More than 61 percent of those arrested for drug trading last year came from one of the five.

"Most foreign smugglers have been found to have developed a close relationship with international smuggling organizations," Cai said.

He said the local procuratorate will also strengthen cooperative efforts with Hong Kong and Macao to crack down on illegal cross-border drug trading by foreigners.

As most foreigners involved in the drugs trade live in rented apartments, the procuratorate has also called for the public security authority to tighten surveillance efforts in foreigner-dense areas.

(China Daily September 4, 2007)