Shanghai police are shifting their anti-drug focus to discos, karaoke bars and other clubs after an increasing number of suspected Ecstasy users admitted getting their pills from such venues.
A spokeswoman for the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, Fang Dinghua, said authorities would focus on music venues for the next five months to stamp out the use of Ecstasy, or 'head-shaking pills'.
The Shanghai Government said on its official Web site that vice squads were 'aiming to destroy hidden spots used for trading and consuming drugs'.
The site quoted Han Liming, Vice-Captain of the city's General Team of Criminal Investigation, as saying police would hold nightclub owners responsible for drug use on their premises.
'In the first instance, we will suspend the operation of the venue for a short time, allowing the owner to put things right. But if there is a repeat scenario, we will shut the place down,' Mr Han said.
Ms Fang said there had been a 23 per cent increase in the number of drug addicts registered by the city - from 12,000 last year to the 14,800. But an Anti-Drug Office official said that of those, more than 90 per cent were heroin addicts, adding: 'We do not know how many people take Ecstasy because it is such a new drug.'
