国内英语新闻:China police chief calls for humane rehabilitation of drug users

BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) -- China's police chief has urged the country's rehabilitation professionals and staff to provide excellent medical care for drug users and develop effective and humane methods to help free them from the use of drugs.

Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu made the remarks Friday during his visit to the city of Ningbo in eastern Zhejiang Province to inspect local drug rehabilitation work.

"To successfully transform a drug user is to save a family and contribute to social harmony. We should explore effective and humane methods to help them stop using drugs and return to society for a better life," Meng said while visiting a district drug rehab center.

Meng expressed his gratitude to all community workers and volunteers for their contribution to the country's anti-drug fight and told them to provide excellent medical care for drug users, including specialized treatments.

"Drug rehab is a very long, arduous and complicated process. You must overcome all difficulties with confidence and firm belief in order to give up drugs and be happy and healthy...," Meng told patients at the drug rehabilitation center.

Meng expressed the hope that these patients would teach more people to cherish life and stay away from drugs after they returned to society.

On Saturday, a local court in southeast China's Fujian Province announced the executions of two drug dealers who were convicted of selling and trafficking 12,242 grams of heroin.

In addition, the ministry announced Saturday in a statement that police across the country seized 38,000 suspects in drug-related crimes from January to May during a national campaign.

A total of 2.3 tons of heroine, 2.4 tons of crystal methamphetamine and 2.1 tons of ketamine were confiscated, along with 243 tons of chemicals for drug making.

According to the statement, the crackdown, starting in early this year, has been focusing on drug making and trafficking, especially chains involving foreign sources.

Saturday is the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.