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)