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)