People in Guangdong province are to be asked for ID cards when sending or accepting express deliveries, to clamp down on illegal and dangerous packages in the mail.

The move will be piloted in Huizhou and Zhuhai by the end of the year, according to Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department.

"The real-name (requirement) for express delivery will cover the entire province next year," senior drug enforcement officer Wang Yukai told local media.

Authorities have acted in the wake of an increase in the number of cases involving drugs and inflammable and explosive materials being found in the mail recently.

Couriers will have the right to refuse packages from customers who do not provide ID cards. Licensed companies will be given ID readers linked to the public security networks, allowing police to access the information, Wang said.

Guangdong is the third area on the mainland to introduce the ID requirement for express deliveries, after Zhejiang and Yunnan provinces. The province handles more than 1.5 billion items of express mail a year.

Shenzhen airport police seized 1,500 grams of methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice", in an express parcel on its way to Shandong province on Aug 22, as well as 3.3 kilograms of "ice" in an express delivery to Shanghai from Huizhou.

Last year, police from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport intercepted more than 230 express parcels and letters containing drugs, police said.

"The names of the senders and receivers were all fake, which causes difficulties for police to detain the suspected drug traffickers," said Wang Junke, director of drug enforcement for Guangdong.

On Feb 2, a courier and a woman receiving a parcel in Guangzhou were seriously injured when a package exploded. Police said the parcel, which contained explosive materials, was sent by the woman's ex-boyfriend.

Wu Di , chief engineer with the Guangdong Provincial Logistics Association's information center, said requiring customers to provide ID cards will not increase production costs for express delivery companies, nor will it cause prices to soar.

"Business for licensed companies will grow after the system is introduced, as it will help ensure safety and security of both the couriers and the mail," he said.

A courier, who gave only his surname, Wang, said the system is good news for couriers. "It won't affect companies much and will help couriers avoid risks, as we often worry about receiving dangerous parcels," he said.

Chen Haifeng, who works for a foreign trade company, said he does not object to the idea of showing his ID card, but he did raise concern that his personal data might be sold on or misused once the system is introduced.

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