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)