East China's metropolis Shanghai has witnessed an increasing number of drug crimes and drug addicts in recent years.

In 2005, the city cracked 55 drug-related crimes involving drugs weighing more than one kilogram, a 61.8 percent increase from the previous year, and captured 33 drug suspects from outsidethe country, nearly five times the number of 2004, said the Shanghai Municipal Narcotics Control Commission.

By the end of last year, the number of registered drug addicts was over 24,000 in Shanghai, 0.13 percent of the city's total population, according to the commission.

Drug addiction is spreading from young people and teenagers to white-collar employees and middle-class workers, while drug taking also extends from public entertainment venues to private lounges, the commission said.

In the first quarter this year, the city reported 376 drug-related cases, capturing 435 suspects and 36.8 kilograms of narcotics.

Drug dealing and taking is threatening public security in Shanghai. Drug-related crimes accounted for eight percent of the total criminal cases in Shanghai last year, said a commission source.

We will strengthen our work in drug prohibition by carrying out regular inspections on entertainment spots, supervision of chemicals used for making narcotics and research on the rehabilitation of drug addicts, said the source.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2006)