Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jun 2003
Source: China Daily (China)
Contact: editor@chinadaily.com.cn
Feedback: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/focus/letters/index.html
Website: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/911
Author: JIANG ZHUQING, China Daily staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

VICTIM: ' NARCOTICS HELL WILL TRAP YOU FOREVER'

"Never even think of trying it just once, otherwise you will be
trapped forever by its evil influence," said a 30-year-old drug addict
surnamed Liu, when recalling his nightmare-like experience of taking
heroin at a drug-rehabilitation centre in Beijing.

Liu made his decision to break the habit after living in a drug hell
for several years, during which his heartbroken father was killed in a
traffic accident.

Like Liu, the health of tens of thousands of drug addicts has been
destroyed due to the spread of drugs in recent years. What is worse is
that drug addiction also breeds crime, said drug control experts.

Statistics from the Ministry of Public Security indicated that at
least 25,000 people had died of drug abuse in recent years. In some
provinces and regions more than 30 per cent of robberies and
burglaries were committed by drug addicts.

To contain the rapid expansion of drug trafficking, fight against
drug-related crimes and help addicts kick the habit, large numbers of
anti-drug police and frontier guards have dedicated all their
strength, with some even contributing their lives.

In Southwest China's Yunnan Province, which neighbours the notorious
Golden Triangle of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos, frontier police have
cracked down on 9,748 drug trafficking cases since 1993 and seized
12,434 suspects and confiscated 31.8 tons of drugs.

In order to safeguard local residents, Yin Mingzhi, an ordinary
soldier with Zhangfeng frontier inspection station in Dehong Dai and
Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, lost his life while hunting down drug
traffickers.

After Yin's death at the young age of 18, his younger sister Yin
Mingyan followed his footsteps and became an anti-drug soldier.

On June 1, frontier police at the Mukang inspection station stopped
two nervous looking passengers, reported the People's Daily.

After interrogation and inspection, the police found 200 grams of fine
heroin on the women.

During dozens of gun fights with drug traffickers in recent years,
five frontier soldiers and officers in Yunnan died and 26 were
injured, statistics showed.

"Don't call them anti-drug heroes, they are just doing their job,"
said Dong Sheng, deputy director-general of Yunnan Provincial
Narcotics Control Committee.

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