On Monday a Chinese drug kingpin went on trial again accused of
producing 17.06 tons of methamphetamine after prosecutors produced
new evidence suggesting an earlier charge had underestimated the
amount of drugs involved.
The 50-year-old accused, Chen Bingxi, was first brought to court
in February accused of producing 12.36 tons of methamphetamine,
according to Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court in southern Guangdong Province. Chen's cases are being
dealt with by the Court. He also faces charges of trafficking and
transporting drugs.
Prosecutors renewed their investigation into Chen's activities
when an accomplice, Liu Zhaohua, was caught and tried. Liu's case
revealed evidence indicating that Chen had produced more drugs than
was thought.
Police in Guangdong found that 4.7 tons of 'ice" not included in
the original charges had been sold. Profits were split between Chen
and Liu, prosecutors told the court on Monday.
In less than 10 months the two allegedly produced a huge amount
of 'ice" in a pesticide plant in Yinchuan, capital of northwestern
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The drugs were transported to the
southern Guangdong Province for sale, prosecutors said.
Police busted Chen's drug ring in November 1999 when they found
a large amount of 'ice" hidden in a warehouse in Guangzhou. Chen
fled to Thailand but was brought back in 2003. His wife, Chen
Baoyu, was on trial alongside her husband.
China had 720,400 drug addicts, according to latest official
statistics.
(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2006)