China seizes massive international heroin shipment
( 2002-05-10 09:31 ) (9 )

Chinese police seized 357 kg (785 lbs) of heroin in the southern China's Shenzhen city and Yunnan province in April, one of its largest ever seizures of the drug, police said on Thursday.

The heroin stash belonged to an international drug group which had tried to ship the heroin from Myanmar to Hong Kong through China.

The seizure was made with the cooperation of police in Hong Kong, Thailand, Myanmar and the United States.

Some 11 suspects were seized by Myanmar authorities while Thai police had arrested one alleged international drug trafficker identified as "Pai Peng".

China's southern province of Yunnan borders Myanmar and Laos, which with northern Thailand makes up the "Golden Triangle", a leading source of heroin.

China has intensified its crackdown on drugs as sweeping economic reforms have boosted incomes and caused the number of registered drug addicts to jump in recent years.

China has about 900,000 registered drug addicts -- most of them hooked on heroin -- up from 148,000 in 1991.