GUANGZHOU: Police yesterday announced details of a major drug bust in Guangdong Province that netted 89 suspects from five gangs.

Law enforcement officers worked with their counterparts from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions for the operation.

Zhang Lei, head of the provincial bureau of public security, said that 16 drug-processing units in major cities in the Pearl River Delta region have also been uncovered this year.

"Guangdong police had been working on the case for more than a year, exchanging information and leads with their Hong Kong and Macao counterparts," Zhang said.

This latest bust has dealt a significant blow to drug production and drug-related crime in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, he said.

Among the 89 people arrested are Hong Kong and Macao permanent residents, and a Chinese living abroad, Zhang told China Daily.

A drug trafficking network and several distribution centers in the region - believed to be controlled by overseas gangs - have also been smashed, the provincial police chief said.

Police seized several tons of heroin, ice, ketamine, ecstasy pills and other types of drugs, as well as unprocessed materials and a large number of guns, bullets and other weapons, Zhang said.

The authorities have frozen more than 100 million yuan ($13.6 million) worth of assets and cash from the drug rings, he said.

To ensure their continued success, Zhang said Guangdong police will continue to cooperate with international and regional authorities to target drug-related and cross-border crime.

Police have also promised to take firm and effective measures to fight drug crimes that threaten the province's economic development and the lives of its residents.

"Guangdong will never become a haven for drug producers and traffickers from home or abroad," Zhang said.

Local people are also being urged to play an active role by reporting crime and drug-related activities, he said.

Earlier this week, Meng Jianzhu, the minister of public security, praised the Guangdong security bureau and other authorities involved for their work on the case.

(China Daily 12/21/2007 page5)