More foreigners trafficking drugs

More foreigners trafficking drugs: "Cases of foreigners dealing illicit drugs have risen significantly and Beijing has become a consumption market rather than just a stop on the smuggling route, officials from the Beijing High People's Court said on Thursday.
The court heard 36 such drug smuggling cases in 2009, 28.5 percent more than in 2008.
In 2008, the court issued verdicts in 28 drug smuggling trials involving foreigners and seized 54 kg of drugs, 30 percent and 90 percent more respectively than 2007. Heroin and methamphetamine, known as 'ice', are the dominant illicit drugs.

Last year, all courts in Beijing handled a total of 1,318 drug cases involving 1,713 suspects and convicted offenders, an increase of 92 percent and 103 percent respectively on the 2006 figures.
During the past three years, the percentages of criminals who got sentences were 92.1 percent, 94.3 percent and 97 percent.
The courts are also meting out tougher penalties.
Almost 20 percent of criminals got severe punishment with prison terms of more than five years; some received death sentences."