China's central authorities have issued guidelines on fighting against online narcotics crime.

The guidelines, made public Wednesday, were jointly mapped out by nine departments, including the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The fast development of the Internet has provided many easy ways for drug dealers to reach out to potential clients. It has not only become a vertical chain for drug producers, traffickers and sellers, but is also a way for addicts to share their experiences and lure youngsters to join.

The guidelines explicitly defines the legal duty of Internet service providers and commercial websites to monitor narcotics-related content, take down offending items and file immediate reports with the police.

Any deliberate concealment or illegal profits made through spreading information about drugs may be subject to legal sanctions and could lead to permanent revocation of permission to operate online.

Legal representatives and administrative staff with direct responsibilities for irregularities will not only be punished in line with law, but may be banned from management positions in other companies.