Police in Yibin, Sichuan province, believe they smashed the country's largest drug-making operation when they detained 85 people, authorities said yesterday.

Officers say they busted five drug-making gangs and smashed eight illegal drug processing factories, confiscating 44 tons of raw materials along with 415 kg of ephedrine, 955 g of methamphetamine and 18.209 million yuan.

News of the breakthrough was reported by the National Narcotics Control Commission and the State Food and Drug Administration.

China Daily

(China Daily 12/03/2009 page1)