Newdrugsandyoungaddictsfancrimerates.docVIP

New drugs and young addicts fan crime rates By He Dan (China Daily)Updated: 2011-06-22 07:33 BEIJING - Drug-related crime has become much more common on the mainland in recent years as an increasing number of addicts have resorted to robbery and other violent crimes to fund their habits, according to a spokesman from the Supreme Peoples Court on Tuesday. Courts nationwide heard 59,234 drug-related cases during 2010, a year-on-year increase of almost 15 percent. The courts convicted 66,298 people of such crimes, said Sun Jungong at a briefing held in Beijing. Related readings:? HYPERLINK /epaper/2011-06/21/contenthtm Guangdongs smuggling cases jump? HYPERLINK /china/2011-06/04/contenthtm Police bust cross-border drug smuggling ring? HYPERLINK /m/fuzhou/e/2011-06/17/contenthtm Anti-drug education reinforced in Fuzhou? HYPERLINK /epaper/2011-06/15/contenthtm Party drug use continues its rapid increaseAmong them, 29 percent received sentences ranging from five years to death, Sun said. During the first five months of this year, Chinas courts heard 25,986 cases involving drugs and convicted 24,815 criminals. When they are in need of money, some drug addicts become reckless and commit crimes, including robbery and theft, so they can get the money they need for drugs, he said. Statistics from the top court also show that new types of drugs - mostly methamphetamine and ketamine - now have a growing presence in mainland. Among drugs seized across the country in 2010, 46 percent were the new types of drugs, a rise of 6.5 percent from 2009. Among drugs seized during the past five months, the proportion of new drugs almost reached half of the total haul and they were more plentiful than heroin for the first time. The emergence of new drugs, especially synthetic drugs, has posed new challenges for the nations law enforcement officers, its public health resources and social stability, said Sun. The top court will s