China considers anti-drug law to enhance drug monitoring (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-08-22 14:11
BEIJING -- 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.
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