TNAG-1710-FCO40-2386-Royal-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 141

CHINA'S CUSTOMS INTERDICTION OF NARCOTICS

Annex C

After new China was founded, drug problems, which historically had caused catastrophe to China, were eradicated in short time due to the severe policy adopted by China's government that illicit cul- tivation, production, transportation and abuse of narcotics were strictly forbidden. Being ongof the drug enforcement authorities, China's Customs has been prevented for years all sorts of drugs from China and destroyed any founded attempts of illicit trafficking to

china.

For the past few years, the policy opening to outside world has been adopted In China and more of China is connected with the world, therefore China has become the advantage of some International drug syndicates for they transitted drug through China to Hong Kong and other regions. To meet the challenge, the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Congress approved the amendment toAr.171 of the Criminal Làw. With the amended law, that traffickers will be punished up to death penalty, while they used to be sentenced to the maximum of life imprisonment with confiscation of their proceeds from drugs for the felonry.

As far as China's Customs is concerned, variouse measures to inter- cept narcotics have been taken as well.

1. training. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation on training of Chinese Customs officers on drug matters have been developed smoothly. e.g. in 1984 one China's Customs officer was sent to be trained in the lab of UNDND in vienna. In May 1984 and in April 1986, two narcotic control courses co-hosted by China's and American customs were held in China.

Recently, several China's Customs officers have been sent to The Federal Republic of Germany to be trained by German Customs and what they have laerned is being proved useful to China's Customs.

2. Drugs

Information. China's Customs Administration and some Local Customs in Guangdon, Guangxi and Yunnan province highlight the Information on drug matters. Any seizures or information of narcotics will be extended to other Customs concerned. Meanwhile, direct drug Information on drug-sharing relationship has been established between China's Customs and our foreign counterports .It is proved helpful. Furthmore, representatives of China's Customs attended two IIONLEA conferences and many other international drug conferences as well.

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