Beijing, China - March 27, 2017
1. Press conference on released report on China's drug situation in 2016
2. Logo of China National Narcotics Control Commission
3. Various of reporters, cameramen
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liu Yuejin, Deputy Commissioner, National Narcotics Control Commission:
"The situation of drugs abuse in China has changed [in 2016]. There are 2.505 million drug addicts in the country, 1.515 million or 60.5 percent of them having abused synthetic drugs, 955,000 or 38.1 percent of them having abused opioids, 35,000 or 1.4 percent having abused marijuana and cocaine. The amount of drug addicts was in slow rise in 2016, up 6.8 percent year on year."
5. Various of reporters
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liu Yuejin, Deputy Commissioner, National Narcotics Control Commission (starting with shot 5):
"Some lawbreakers have modified molecular structures of drugs to illegally produce new-type psychoactive substances that have similar narcotic effects. Police have busted eight cooking dens that produced new-type psychoactive substances, seizing over 80 kilograms of officially-banned new-type psychoactive substances, and over one ton of other new-type psychoactive substances."

FILE: China - Exact Date and Location Unknown
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7. Various of police seizing drugs, arresting suspects

Beijing, China - March 27, 2017
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Liu Yuejin, Deputy Commissioner, National Narcotics Control Commission (starting with shot 7):
"In 2016, China focused on cracking down on transnational and cross-border drug crimes, strengthened information exchanges, deepened cooperation in handling cases with other countries, and promoted more pragmatic efficiency in international anti-drugs cooperation. One of the efficiencies was that we maintained security and stability at relevant waters of the Mekong River by implementing international and regional cooperation, actively carrying out a second-phase joint crackdown on drugs crimes among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam."

FILE: China - Exact Date and Location Unknown
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9. Various of police seizing drugs, arresting suspects

The China National Narcotics Control Commission on Monday released its report on the country's overall drug situation in 2016.

"The situation of drugs abuse in China has changed [in 2016]. There are 2.505 million drug addicts in the country, 1.515 million or 60.5 percent of them having abused synthetic drugs, 955,000 or 38.1 percent of them having abused opioids, 35,000 or 1.4 percent having abused marijuana and cocaine. The amount of drug addicts was in slow rise in 2016, up 6.8 percent year on year," said Liu Yuejin, Deputy Commissioner of the National Narcotics Control Commission at a press conference on releasing the report in Beijing.

The official has pointed out a faster growth in the number of abusers of methamphetamine and ketamine in China, while users of new-type psychoactive substances were also spotted.

"Some lawbreakers have modified molecular structures of drugs to illegally produce new-type psychoactive substances that have similar narcotic effects. Police have busted eight cooking dens that produced new-type psychoactive substances, seizing over 80 kilograms of officially-banned new-type psychoactive substances, and over one ton of other new-type psychoactive substances," said Liu Yuejin.

The incidence of drug trafficking both cross-border and within the country was frequent through various channels and ways. Drug trafficking is becoming more organized, networked, professionalized and violence-oriented, according to the report.

"In 2016, China focused on cracking down on transnational and cross-border drug crimes, strengthened information exchanges, deepened cooperation in handling cases with other countries, and promoted more pragmatic efficiency in international anti-drugs cooperation. One of the efficiencies was that we maintained security and stability at relevant waters of the Mekong River by implementing international and regional cooperation, actively carrying out a second-phase joint crackdown on drugs crimes among China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam," said Liu.