Police destroy drug ring

cctv.com 10-18-2005 17:15

China's Ministry of Public Security has announced an important victory in the drug war. Police from China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand jointly destroyed a cross-border drug-trafficking network this month.

The announcement came on the sidelines of the on-going Second International Congress of the ASEAN and China Cooperative Operations in Response to Dangerous Drugs.

The criminal network was known as "Han Yongwan Transnational Drug-trafficking Clique." Seventy suspects from China, Myanmar, and Laos were arrested. It took police forces from those three countries -- and Thailand -- 11 months to destroy the ring. In addition to guns, ammo, and rocket launchers, police confiscated over 700 kilograms of heroin.

An official from China's Ministry of Public Security expressed appreciation for a drug control mechanism between China and the 10 ASEAN members, which was formed 5 years ago.

Zhang Chongde, Deputy Director General Border Control Bureau, Ministry of Public Security, said, "With the improvement of the mechanism, the countries involved will strengthen their cooperation in the fields of information sharing, joint investigations, evidence exchanges, and coordinating operations."

The breaking of the Han Yongwan Drug Trafficking Clique was dedicated to the 3-day anti-drug trafficking congress between China and the 10 ASEAN members. Chinese leaders will meet the heads of these delegations on Thursday, at the closing of the conference.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com