In a determined bid to rein in the increasing number of people involved in drug taking and curb the number of crimes they're involved in China's top legislature will next week hear the first draft of an anti-drugs law. 

Sources say the anti-drug legislation is on the agenda for the 23rd meeting of the tenth Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC). 

China has toughened its anti-drug stance in recent years as the number of users and drug-related crimes has grown. Statistics from the Supreme People's Court show that Chinese courts handled 47,232 drug crime cases between January 2005 to May 2006.

In total 53,205 defendants were sentenced during that period with 22,371 of those convicted given tough penalties including life imprisonment and even the death penalty, the statistics show. 

In June police revealed that armed drug smuggling gangs had emerged in China and were attempting to build a sophisticated network to sell drugs including heroin. Experts and police have repeatedly called for more anti-drug legislation to bring those involved before the courts. The Ministry of Public Security has played an active role in drawing up the bill.

Also next week a draft law on the protection of minors will be submitted to the legislature. For the coming legislative session, from August 22-27, lawmakers will deliberate on a money laundering bill and new property and bankruptcy laws, the source with the legislature said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2006)