MOSCOW, January 16 (Sputnik) — Chinese police have seized 11.14 tons of narcotics and arrested 60,500 suspects as part of a nationwide operation, The Guardian reports.
From late September to December, Chinese authorities have dealt with 52,800 drug-related criminal cases during the course of a "Ban Drugs in Hundreds of Cities" campaign that is scheduled to continue until April, The Guardian reports, citing the China’s Ministry of Public Safety.
According to The Global Times, about 180,000 drug users were punished by the authorities by mid-December, with 55,679 of them being forced to undergo compulsory rehabilitation. Furthermore, the Ministry of Public Safety and Chinese national drug control administration intend to "speak with local drug control officials" as part of their next move, the newspaper adds.
The Economic Times points out that the public discussion in China regarding drug use has recently been stirred by several high-profile drug-related scandals involving celebrities such as the son of Hollywood movie star Jackie Chan, Jaycee.
