TAIYUAN -- A total of 23 people were detained after police in North China's Shanxi province busted a drug-trafficking ring, authorities said on Wednesday.

Last October, police caught a suspect surnamed Liu, who was transporting drugs to buyers in Liulin county, Shanxi.

This led to the capture of more suspects in Hubei province. A total of 23 people were detained and 47 people were fined for using drugs.

Police also seized more than 1,400 grams of methamphetamine.

The main suspect, surnamed Zhang, is a woman living in Tianmen city, Hubei. She used cosmetics sales as a front to recruit agents to deal drugs, police said. Further investigation is under way.