China is helping neighboring countries replace opium poppy with
other profitable plants to prevent an influx of narcotic drugs.
The government of Yunnan Province in Southwest China has invested
at least 300 million yuan (US$36 million) in the past decade in
plants to replace opium poppy. At least 29,660 hectares of opium
poppy land in Myanmar and Laos are no longer being used to plant
opium poppy, according to the Yunnan public security
department.
The provincial government has instead provided at least 200,000
economic fruit trees and 1,000 tons of seeds. And more than 3,000
Chinese experts have been sent to neighboring countries to help
train technicians; build roads, power stations and schools; improve
the food processing ability; and promote travel business.
These efforts to combat drugs have been deemed effective by the
international community.
Yunnan Province borders Myanmar, Laos and Viet Nam, a popular route
for drug dealers.
Local police claim to have arrested 10,600 suspected drug dealers
and seized eight tons of drugs in the first 10 months this year, an
increase of 20 to 30 per cent over last year.
(China
DailyDecember 1, 2001)