Philadelphia Inquirer Examines Drug Trafficking, Commercial Sex Work, HIV Prevalence in Chinese Border City Ruili
The Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday examined the "rampan[t]" increase in the number of HIV cases and the amount of heroin trafficking in Ruili, China, which lies on the country's border with Myanmar. According to the Inquirer, Ruili is a stop on illicit drug-smuggling routes to Southeast Asia, Australia and North America. In addition to the drug trade, "[d]ozens of brothels line the central road" in the city, the Inquirer reports. Although the HIV-prevalence rate in the city is unknown, the United Nations has said the city is a focal point of HIV infection in China, according to the Inquirer (Johnson, Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/8).
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