BEIJING — The number of new users of illicit drugs in China in 2020 was 30.6 percent lower than the previous year, according to a national teleconference on drug control on April 30. 

Anti-drug departments have maintained a high-pressure crackdown on criminal activities involving drugs, and worked together to intercept the inflow of drugs from overseas.

In 2020, a total of 64,000 cases involving drug crimes were cracked nationwide, with 92,000 suspects arrested and 55.5 tons of drugs seized, according to data released at the conference.

To reduce the harm done by drugs, a national campaign was carried out to boost drug rehabilitation. The number of drug users was 1.8 million last year, down 16.1 percent year-on-year.

Efforts have also been made to promote anti-drug education. A national youth anti-drug knowledge competition was held last year, covering more than 89 million students from 213,000 schools.

In 2020, China cooperated with international community including the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the European Union on drug control. Efforts have also been made to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with relevant countries in areas such as the control of fentanyl substances, according to the conference.