Guangdong combats drugs through improved care of reformed drug users

Paraphernalia use to produce drugs on display. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

With greater emphasis on the welfare of reformed drug dealers and users, Guangdong has achieved remarkable progress in combating drug-related cases.

Guangdong cracked 26,000 drug-related cases and arrested 32,000 suspects, busted 1,708 drug gangs and seized 34.8 tons of narcotics from January to November, respectively up 0.3 percent, 15.4 percent, 57.9 percent and 67.5 percent over the same period of last year, said Guo Shaobo, deputy director-general of Guangdong provincial department of public security.

The numbers also made Guangdong top the country in terms of drug seizures, said Guo.

Guangdong, located in South China, has a long history of drug control stretching back to as early as burning the opium stocks in Humen in July 1839.

Guo also emphasized local drug control authorities' strategy of enhancing cooperation with counterparts from other cities and provinces.

The new strategy has forced many drug producers to relocate their dens to other cities in other provinces after Guangdong strengthened the crackdown on production and trafficking, said Guo.