NANNING - Police in southern China have busted a workshop manufacturing methamphetamine hidden in a chicken farm, seizing 20 suspects, authorities said Tuesday.

More than 200 police officers from southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region raided the drug factory in Gusi, a remote mountain village in Nanning, Guangxi's capital, on May 31, according to Nanning public security bureau.

They confiscated more than 560 kilograms of methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, and over 140 kg of chloroephedrine, an in-process material for making methamphetamine, drug-making equipment and over 860,000 yuan (about 127,000 U.S. dolloars), the bureau said.

Guangxi police obtained information early March that a man surnamed Liang might be producing drugs in a suburb of Nanning. After a three-month investigation, a large drugs ring covering Guangxi, Guangdong and Fujian provinces was uncovered.

The ring was well organized with each gang member assigned a particular role. They were relatives or fellow-villagers of Liang.

Further investigation is ongoing.

Between January to May, Nanning police have arrested 263 drug suspects, seized more than 2,200 kg drugs, 89 times more than that in the same period last year.