Pubdate: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 Source: Newsday (NY) Copyright: 2002 Newsday Inc. Contact: http://www.newsday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/308 CHINA CHEF SENTENCED FOR OPIUM DISH BEIJING -- A Beijing restaurant-owner was sentenced to 18 months in prison for sprinkling ground opium poppy over a spicy fish dish in an effort to ensure that diners returned, a newspaper reported. Beijing's Haidian District People's Court on April 23 convicted Bi Jingxiang of "tricking others into using drugs" and also ordered him to pay a $365 fine, the Workers Daily said in its Saturday edition. Bi claimed ground opium poppy was frequently used in his hometown of Chongqing to prevent dysentery among those partaking of the region's spicy cuisine. "It's extremely common and has lots of positive effects," the paper quoted Bi saying. It said he plans to appeal the sentence. Bi invested $12,000 in the Yuyuan Restaurant a year ago and enjoyed a roaring trade, the paper said. Police responding to a tip arrested him in late February and seized one pound of ground opium poppy powder. Chinese authorities say opium poppies grow naturally or in small cultivated plots throughout the country and are still used in some remote districts as a folk cure. Authorities say most of the refined heroin and opium used in China comes from jungle labs in Myanmar. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens