BEIJING — Chinese police caught over 18,000 suspects involved in more than 14,000 drug-related crimes in the first five months of 2022, the Ministry of Public Security said on June 23.

About 7.8 metric tons of drugs were seized across the country during the same period, the ministry added.

Under the high-pressure crackdown of anti-drug departments nationwide, a total of 451,000 narcotics crimes were busted in recent five years, with 588,000 suspects nabbed and 305 tons of drugs seized.

China's anti-drug situation has continued to improve, the ministry said, pledging more efforts to further step up the crackdown and modernize China's drug control system and capacity.