BEIJING -- China's top legislature will next week hear the first draft of an anti-drug law, drawn up in an effort to curb drug-related crimes and restrain a growing population of dope takers.

The anti-drug legislation is on the agenda for the 23rd meeting of the tenth Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said NPC sources.

China has toughened its anti-drug stance in recent years as the number of drug takers, and drug-related crimes, has grown.

Statistics from the Supreme People's Court showed that Chinese courts handled 47,232 drug crime cases from January 2005 to May 2006.

Altogether, 53,205 defendants were given sentences in that period, with 22,371 of the convicts handed tough penalties including life imprisonment or even the death penalty, the statistics showed.

In June police officials said armed drug smuggling gangs had emerged in China, and were trying to build a sophisticated network to sell drugs such as heroine and "ice".

Experts and police have repeatedly called for more anti-drug legislation to bring drug activities under control. The Ministry of Public Security has played an active role in drawing up the bill.

Next week, along with the anti-drug bill, a draft law on the protection of minors will be submitted to the legislature.

For the coming legislative session, held between August 22 and August 27, lawmakers will also deliberate on an anti-money laundering bill, a new property law and a bankruptcy law, the source with the legislature said.