Police in this biggest industrial and business center in China seized more heroin and other illegal drugs during the first 11 months of 2001 than the previous year.

A police spokesman said the improved investigation capability of the local police has enabled them to curb the spread of illicit drug trafficking and taking, including such narcotics as "ice", methamphetamines, marijuana and opium.

In January-November 2001, the police uncovered 1,983 illicit drug cases, including 26 major ones each involving more than one kilogram of illicit drugs, double the amount for the same period of the previous year.

A total of 1,574 drug trafficking suspects and drug takers were arrested by the police.

On April 25, 2001, the Shanghai police smashed a drug trafficking ring that shipped drugs from Myanmar through southwest China's Yunnan Province to Shanghai, confiscating 20 kg of heroin and other drugs.

The police, in cooperation with their counterparts in Yunnan, uncovered another case, and confiscated 10 kg of heroin on September 4, 2001.

(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2002)