BEIJING (TIP): China says Southeast Asia’s lawless `Golden Triangle’ region remains the overwhelming source of the heroin and methamphetamine used in the country.
A Cabinet report on China’s drug situation released Wednesday underscores the threat posed by the region incorporating parts of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, despite efforts at cross-border cooperation.
It said that 90% of the 9.3 tons of heroin and 11.4 tons of methamphetamine seized in 2014 came from the area that borders China’s southern province of Yunnan.
The report is the government’s first comprehensive look at drug use in China, where synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and ketamine have overtaken heroin in popularity. It said China has about 3 million registered drug users, but estimates of those who have tried drugs run as high as 14 million.