"All these remarks are sophistries and heresies. They are merely those drug users' excuses to seek thrills while living empty lives and lacking moral values," said Liu.
INTERNET-BASED DRUG CRIMES
According to the report, the Internet is being used more than ever in drug dealing.
Cyberspace has become a major platform for drug criminals to release sales information of precursor chemicals and new psychoactive substances, broker drug deals and promote drug making processes, said Liu.
The booming logistics industry has become a key channel of drug trafficking. "Online communication, bank payment and logistics delivery has become a new trafficking mode," according to the report
In December 2014, police launched a massive crackdown on Internet-based drug crimes, targeting seven major cases that involved nearly 100 chat groups of Tencent QQ, a Chinese instant messaging service, and about 2,000 QQ accounts. The police seized more than 700 major suspects all over China as well as in Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore.
Drug criminals communicate with each other through instant messagers and open online stores to make drug deals, pay through online payment software and deliver drugs in disguise through logistics services.
"Such covert approaches have posed challenges to law enforcement agencies," the report said.
HARSH PENALTIES
Chinese lawmakers have been promoting stricter punishment for drug-driving, including adding specific entries into the Criminal Law in light of more drug-influenced accidents.
Narcotics seriously affect drivers' coordination and mental condition, and can be more dangerous than drink-driving, said Liu.
He suggested that those caught driving while on drugs should receive heavier penalties than public security detention, which lacks powerful deterrent.
Drug-driving poses severe danger in the street and should be regarded as a crime against public security, Liu said.
A tour-bus driver took methamphetamine before driving and caused the deaths of 14 people and injuries to 20 in an accident on a highway in east China's Jiangsu in 2012.
However, Liu admitted there are still some technical details to be solved, such as evidence obtaining and crime determination, before legislating on drug-driving.
"But I am sure the process will be completed very soon, and drug-driving will be put under the jurisdiction of Criminal Law in very near future," the assistant minister said.
