Drug dealing continues to flourish in China despite the country's massive crackdown on illegal drugs.

An aggressive anti-narcotics campaign did not stop an African man from peddling his merchandise outside a shoe outlet in Sanlitun District.  

"Hey man, you want to smoke something?," he would ask passers-by. He was publicly seen carrying cocaine, ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine -- all illegal in China.

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The man was only one of several drug dealers who frequent Beijing's central diplomatic district.  Their presence a few meters away from a police station had triggered analysts to question if the government is truly winning the battle against the $100-billion business. 

More than a hundred cities are the subject of the government's ambitious 6-month anti-drug campaign.

The Ministry of Public Safety earlier announced that police had arrested 60,500 suspects for several drug offenses and seized more than 11 metric tons of narcotics since October.  State media reported, around 180,000 drug users had been punished with 55,000 sent to government-run rehabilitation centers.

Liu Yuejin, Director General of the government's anti-narcotics division, admits the task of solving China's drug problem is cumbersome.

"China is facing a grim task in curbing synthetic drugs, including 'ice,' which more and more of China's drug addicts tend to use," Liu said, referring to ice as street name for methamphetamine.

Liu has put the actual number of drug users at about 13 million.  Of this, half are suspected of using methamphetamine.

Jaycee Chan, the son of kung fu movie star Jackie Chan, is the latest celebrity jailed in China on drug charges. Chan had voluntarily pleaded guilty for letting others use drugs inside his home.  He also tested positive for marijuana upon his arrest in August.  

Celebrities have been a major target of the government's campaign on drugs. They have included film directors and a prominent screenwriter.

China has some of the world's harshest drug laws. Those caught trafficking large amounts may face penalty up to death. 

TagsDrugs, metamphetamine