New Zealand man accused of smuggling drugs in south China

GUANGZHOU - A New Zealand man has been held in south China's Guangdong Province for allegedly attempting to smuggle 30 kg of crystal methamphetamine out of the country, local customs authorities said Thursday.

It is the largest ever crystal meth smuggling case Guangzhou customs have seen, Rao Jiyong, a customs official, told a press briefing.

An Australian woman who entered China with the man on tourist visas on Nov 6 has been released after investigation showed that she was not intentionally involved.

The man is subject to official arrest approved by the procuratorate.

"We have sufficient evidence. The man himself also admitted that this was not his first time he trafficked drugs out of China, " said Rao.

He added that the case will be handed over to the Chinese judicial authorities.

The customs official did not disclose the two names.

The case was cracked on Nov 8 when the two tried to board a plane back to Sydney from Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, and customs officers found 30 kg of the drug in their luggage.

Their tour route through China was different from that of common tourists and the investigation showed the trade was likely controlled by an international drug smuggling ring, Rao said.

The case highlights the severity of drug trafficking with foreigners involved in China.

So far this year, the Guangzhou customs have busted 193 drug trafficking cases in which 391 kg drugs were seized and 79 suspects, including 63 foreigners, were detained, said Rao.

The Chinese authorities have long been heavy-handed in fighting drug trafficking and other drug-related crimes. Drug traffickers could face punishments of up to life imprisonment and death penalty.

Zhu Zhengfu, head of Kunlun Law Firm in Guangzhou, said the general public in China have long been very supportive of the government's anti-drug trafficking efforts.

"Currently, many criminal offences are sparked by drugs and we can not be soft on drug trafficking," said Zhu.

"It is an international rule that the suspects in criminal offences are tried where the offences occur," said Zhu Lieyu, head of Guangdong Guardian Law Firm.

"Although death penalty is abolished in some countries, drug traffickers will be handed down punishments in accordance with the Chinese law regardless of their nationality," said Zhu Lieyu.

Over the years, China has strengthened international cooperation in fighting drug trafficking.

Rao said Chinese customs have stepped up cooperation with law enforcement authorities in Australia and the two sides regularly exchange tip-offs and other related data.

"It is the international obligation of all countries to fight against drug trafficking," said Rao.