BEIJING — Progress has been made by 109 Chinese cities in spearheading the country's anti-drug war, said China National Narcotics Control Commission.

In January 2018, 109 cities nationwide, including the city of Zhongshan in Guangdong province and the city of Kunming in Yunnan province, were designated to take the lead in the fight against drugs.

In 2018, police in the 109 cities seized 38.8 tons of narcotics, accounting for 50 percent of the total seizures across the country, solved 3,500 drug-related cases and detained about 45,000 suspects, said the commission.

Efforts should be intensified to curb drug-related crimes and minimize the harm of drugs in society as the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China this year, said Liu Yuejin, deputy director of the commission.