Thousands caught in national sweep

Chinese police detained 61,300 suspects and handled 53,000 cases in a recent crackdown on drug crimes, the Ministry of Public Security said.

A national campaign was launched in late January, and as of May 9 it had resulted in the seizure of 17 metric tons of heroin and methamphetamine, nearly three times the amount seized during the same period last year.

Police also smashed 274 manufacturing dens and seized 4,438 tons of chemicals and other raw materials used for producing narcotics, the ministry said.