Venue: Beijing Rui'an Hotel

Date: June 25, 2021

Moderator: Chen Jie, spokesperson and deputy director general of the Department of Policy and Legal Affairs of NIA

Guests: Representatives of frontline border anti-narcotics police officers from Yunnan General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection and Guangxi General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection

 

On the morning of June 25, National Immigration Administration (NIA) held a press conference on "Outstanding Anti-Narcotics Police Officers on the Frontline of Border Immigration Administration" in Beijing. Chen Jie, spokesperson and deputy director general of the Department of Policy and Legal Affairs of NIA, moderated the conference and notified participants of the performance of border anti-narcotics law enforcement by the national immigration administration authorities in the first half of 2021. Representatives of frontline border anti-narcotics police officers from Yunnan General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection and Guangxi General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection shared with reporters stories of immigration administration police officers fighting cross-border drug crimes as steadfast gatekeepers of the country's border.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the press, good morning! Welcome to the press conference of NIA.

 

Since it's establishment, the national immigration administration authority has resolutely implemented the important instructions of the general secretary Xi Jinping on anti-narcotics efforts and the deployment requirements of the CPC Central Committee, strictly adhered to the anti-narcotics policy, and brought into full play their functional advantages, position advantages and professional skills to vigorously investigate, combat and prevent drug-related illegal and criminal activities, thus effectively curbing the infiltration and inflow of foreign narcotic drugs. "Seizing one gram of narcotic drugs at the border will help spare more people from tremendous harm inland". As an important law enforcement force stationed at ports open to the outside world and inland border areas, the national immigration administration authorities have bravely and decisively waged a people's war against narcotic drugs. This year, we have so far cracked 571 drug cases, including 131 extraordinarily serious cases involving more than 10,000 grams of drugs, and we have arrested 665 suspects and seized 5.55 tons of drugs and 323.58 tons of drug-making materials. The vast number of immigration administration police officers, while keeping in mind the responsibilities to serve the country, the nation and the people and stand the test of history, are committed to fighting without wavering to guard the border against narcotics, despite the life-threatening trials and tribulations they always face. During guarding the border and our country, they have taken on one formidable anti-narcotics mission after another and made great contributions without much fanfare, which vividly demonstrates their utter loyalty. This year witnessed remarkable achievements in their anti-drug efforts: one group and nine individuals have been awarded the first-class order of merit, five groups and 55 individuals the second-class order of merit, 38 individuals the third-class order of merit, and one unit was awarded the title of "Outstanding National Anti-Narcotics Organization".

 

As the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is coming soon on June 26, we invited five representatives of immigration administration police officers fighting for border anti-narcotics on the frontline to this press conference. Four of them are from Yunnan and one is from Guangxi. Firstly, let me introduce to you three officers from Yunnan General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection, they are Zheng Zhaorui, police officer from Mukang Frontier Inspection Station under Dehong Frontier Administration Detachment, Han Bin, police officer from Gongxin Frontier Police Station under Pu'er Frontier Administration Detachment, and Zhang Di, police officer from Yiwu Frontier Inspection Station under Xishuangbanna Frontier Administration Detachment. Huang Ri, deputy director of the Enforcement Investigations Team at the Chongzuo Frontier Administration Detachment, Guangxi General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection. The last representative works on the frontline of anti-narcotics under Yunnan General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection, and his name and specific unit shall be omitted for the sake of safety and confidentiality in investigation assignments and we will simply refer to him as Officer Yun.

 

Now the five representatives will briefly introduce themselves.

 

Let's first welcome Comrade Zheng Zhaorui.

 

[Zheng Zhaorui]:

Dear friends from the press, good morning! My name is Zheng Zhaorui and I am from Yunnan General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection. The Mukang Frontier Inspection Station that I work for was awarded the honorary title of "Outstanding Anti-narcotics Station" by the State Council and the Central Military Commission and is known as the "Unassailable Station on Mount Yunling" on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Since 2003 when I started my career, I have been working in Mukang Frontier Inspection Station for border anti-narcotics law enforcement. Over the past 18 years, I have taken part in operations that have cracked more than 850 drug cases, seized over 500 kilograms of drugs, and arrested 457 drug dealers.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Mr. Zheng Zhaorui is an exemplary anti-narcotics police officer. He has been engaged in investigation and seizure operation at the frontier inspection station for a long time during which he has also taken part in cracking many major and important cases and made great contributions, winning him the reputation as "blade of the anti-narcotics fight" during his previous service in the public security border force. Zheng became a professional policeman when the public security border force was merged into the immigration administration system in 2018. We believe that he will continue to make new contributions to serve the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the people through applying his professional skill to fight against narcotics.

 

Now, let's welcome Han Bin to introduce himself.

 

[Han Bin]:

Friends from the press, good morning. My name is Han Bin, an officer from the Gongxin Border Police Station of Yunnan Pu'er Border Administration Detachment. In the border anti-narcotics law enforcement, we mainly resort to border patrol, public investigation and seizure, and society-wide prevention and control within our jurisdiction to actively combat drug-related illegalities and crimes. We often carry out publicity and education to raise public awareness of narcotics control in communities within our jurisdiction to mobilize more people to join the fight. We also regularly visit and thoroughly investigate former drug addicts for better education and control, and take a comprehensive approach to tackle rural drug problems, etc.

 

In my 15 years as a police officer, I have taken part in operations that accumulatively cracked 37 drug cases, arrested 57 criminal suspects, seized 201 kilograms of drugs, and destroyed 19 drug production and trafficking dens. Thank you.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Mr. Han Bin was also awarded a first-class order of merit. As a community-level police officer, he, together with his fellow comrades, has been dedicated to guard the border with practicing the "mass line" in the day-to-day border anti-drug work to fight for a drug-free and safe place.

 

Now, let's welcome Zhang Di to give a self introduction.

 

[Zhang Di]:

Friends from the press, good morning! My name is Zhang Di, an officer from Yiwu Frontier Inspection Station of the Border Administration Detachment of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province. As a critical border checkpoint, Yiwu Frontier Inspection Station prevents cross-border drug flow mainly by conducting 24-hour two-way inspection of personnel, vehicles and goods entering and leaving the border areas in daily work. In 2017, I joined the police and became an inspector at Yiwu Frontier Inspection Station. Every time I am on duty, I need to wear a body armor and a helmet as heavy as about 7.5 kilograms regardless of how hot, cold, windy or rainy it is. On average, I check over 800 vehicles and more than 2,000 pieces of information every day, trying to find traces of criminality of drug dealers. Over the previous four years since I started to work as an officer, I have, together with my fellow officers, cracked more than 20 drug trafficking cases and seized more than 80 kilograms of various drugs.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Being born after 2000, Zhang Di is diligent, eager to learn, passionate about and dedicated to her job. Thus she quickly and smoothly transitioned from military service to law enforcement and has developed well-honed skills in combating narcotic drugs. She was awarded a second-class order of merit for individuals and has become a competent policewoman in border anti-drug work.

 

Now, let's welcome Huang Ri to introduce himself.

 

[Huang Ri]:

Good morning, everyone. My name is Huang Ri. I currently serve as the deputy director of the Enforcement Investigations Team at the Chongzuo Frontier Administration Detachment in Guangxi, and I am also a frontline investigator who has been engaged in border anti-narcotics law enforcement for 17 years. Chongzuo, where we work, is a municipality with the longest land border in Guangxi Province and the most border ports in China, and it is China's most convenient land passage connecting ASEAN. The special geographical location makes Chongzuo the first line of defense in Guangxi against drug inflow from abroad. Our detachment takes on more than half of the land border management and control tasks in Guangxi, and our Enforcement Investigations Team is a full-time unit under the detachment. Up till now, I have joined numerous operations that have cracked more than 250 drug cases, busted 25 transnational drug trafficking gangs, arrested more than 360 drug-related criminal suspects, and seized over 300 kilograms of drugs.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Huang Ri works on the frontline of Guangxi's border, which is also an important battlefield for anti-narcotics law enforcement. The Enforcement Investigations Team he serves has racked up a slew of accomplishments, which earned the unit the honor of "National Outstanding Team in Anti-Narcotics Law Enforcement" and him a second-class order of merit. I am sure he is eager to share stories about his fellow comrades and himself later.

 

Now, let's welcome Officer Yun to introduce himself.

 

[Officer Yun (alias)]:

Dear friends from the press, good morning. Please forgive me for having to wear a facial mask when I am meeting you on such an important occasion. This is to prevent the identity of our frontline investigators from being revealed. This is the first time that I have been in the limelight like this. I am an anti-narcotics investigator in Yunnan General Station of Exit-entry Frontier Inspection and have been working as an undercover for a long stretch of time. I put on the police uniform for today's event but most of the time I stay as an ordinary person in the crowd, trying not to be noticed. I experienced dangerous freeway chases, and even witnessed my fellow officers killed in the line of duty in  more than 10 years’ anti-narcotics law enforcement, I have been part of the efforts for cracking 756 drug cases, arresting 851 criminal suspects, and seizing 1.86 tons of various narcotics. I feel proud whenever a drug case is cracked. I'm relieved that people will thus suffer less from drugs, even if we have to work harder or live in the shadow.

 

[Chen Jie]:

On the battlefield of border anti-narcotics law enforcement, many unsung heroes never hesitate to take tremendous pressure and make great sacrifice in facing the most cunning drug dealers in the most dangerous frontline. They have played a significant role in anti-narcotics war. Officer Yun was honored again for a first-class order of merit for individuals not long ago. And his presence gives us a wonderful opportunity to know more about heroes like him.

 

Thanks again for all the five exemplary officers. After listening to their introductions, you must have a lot of questions to ask. Now, it's time for you to raise questions. Please identify the media you represent before raising questions.

 

[China Media Group]:

Just now the moderator informed us that the drugs seized by national immigration administration authorities at the border in the first half of this year weighed more than 5 tons. Then what is the drug crime situation faced by China's border areas? What measures have been taken to combat drug crimes in  these areas? Thank you.

 

[Chen Jie]:

The frontline police officers are in a better position to answer these questions. Of all the provinces in China, Yunnan faces the most daunting task in border anti-narcotics law enforcement. Han Bin works at a border police station of Yunnan province and is well versed in border narcotics investigation, containment, combat, prevention, management and control. He will answer your questions.

 

[Han Bin]:

At present, drug crimes at the border are featured in the intertwining of online and offline channels, collusion between domestic and foreign drug traffickers, rampant circumvention of customs control, trafficking of new-type drugs, increase in drug delivery through logistics and express services, and the interweaving of drug crimes and many other types of cross-border illegalities and crimes. In addition, drug trafficking transactions shift from offline to online channels and have thus become more and more elusive, which makes it more difficult to investigate, combat and penalize drug-related crimes. The complex narcotics situation at the border gravely threatens the lives and health of the people within the jurisdiction and severely compromises social stability and border security. For example, in the first half of this year alone, the Pu'er Frontier Administration Detachment that I work for seized 1.3 tons of various types of drugs. This is the ninth consecutive year that our detachment has seized over 1 ton of drugs, a threshold that only took half a year to pass in 2021. These figures indicate the rampancy of border drug crimes while speaking to the efforts we put in the fight against drugs and our ability to investigate and seize drugs.

 

In light of the drug crime situation at the border, in recent years we have, in accordance with the unified arrangement of our superior authority, mainly resorted to four approaches to vigorously crack down on drug-related illegalities and crimes. First, we stepped up investigation and containment by setting up more investigation and seizure points on the first line of the border, and dynamically adjusting police force deployment on the second line of defense to strictly and meticulously check personnel, vehicles and goods entering and leaving the border areas. We also strengthened society-wide prevention and control within the border jurisdiction in a grid-based manner to shore up lines of defense. Second, in the special fight against crimes that interfere with national frontier administration, we innovated strategies by forming a dedicated team to crack special cases and subject the case to higher-level supervision. We sought to investigate and solve crimes with greater intensity and in particular crack down on drug trafficking through delivery with greater force. Third, we strengthened cooperation with neighboring countries by enhancing collaboration between different types of police officers and various regions and deepening the border law enforcement cooperation with law enforcement agencies of neighboring countries to constantly improve the effectiveness of joint combat and administration efforts. Fourth, we engaged the masses in society-wide prevention and control efforts. The advantages brought by the synergy from the party, the government, the military, the police and the people will be leveraged to consolidate the joint efforts in border protection and defense. We worked with relevant local departments to extensively publicize the harm of drugs and boost people's awareness of identifying drugs, preventing and refusing the use of drugs and voluntarily contributing to the fight against drugs. By doing so, all forces will be mobilized to join together to win the people's war against drugs.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you, Mr. Han Bin. As the saying goes, the devil climbs one foot, while the priest climbs ten feet. Although the anti-narcotics situation at the border remains grave and complex, with the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the huge support from the people of all ethnic groups, particularly those at the border areas, the immigration administration police officers always have the determination, confidence and ability to guard the country's border well, effectively maintain an environment of harmony and stability and promote prosperity and development of our country.

 

You may ask other questions now.

 

[Xinhua News Agency]:

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has given important instructions on anti-drug work, stressing the need to "continue to strictly follow the anti-drug guidance and fight the people's war against drugs in a bid to make new progress in drug control". Then what's the opinion of frontline immigration administration police officers on the fight against drug at the border?

 

[Chen Jie]:

I believe all the five police officers here have a lot to share. In the interest of time, I would like to ask two of them to answer it. Let's first hear what Mr. Zheng Zhaorui has to say after investigating, seizing, containing and intercepting drugs for so many years at Mukang Frontier Inspection Station.

 

[Zheng Zhaorui]:

Thank you for your question. The anti-narcotics work has a bearing on the security of the country, the prosperity of the nation, and the well-being of the people. General secretary Xi's important instructions on anti-drug work provide us with the fundamental guideline to follow in our frontline anti-narcotics law enforcement at the border. Southwest China is in a special geographical environment due to its proximity to the "Golden Triangle", a source of narcotics in the world, and thus becomes the first line of defense in the war against drugs. We immigration administration authority represent the state at ports and borders, and it is our sacred duty to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. The Mukang Frontier Inspection Station that I work for is stationed at the Shuangpo Pass of National Highway 320, which is the main cross-border passageway within the Dehong frontier administration area. We are duty-bound to inspect personnel and transportation that pass by according to the law, and act as the first line of defense that prevents cross-border drugs from flowing into China. The task is arduous and the responsibility is enormous.

 

The drug trafficking has become more rampant worldwide, and we are faced with new situation and problems, for example, the rebound in infiltration of drugs from abroad, the increase in drug-related factors at the border, and the  new schemes to hide and deal drugs, which pose increasing risks to and challenges for border narcotics control. To follow the important instructions of general secretary Xi Jinping, win the people's war against drugs and seek new progress, we frontline police officers must commit ourselves, hone our skills and be willing to make sacrifices and endure hardships. We immigration administration police officers working at border areas will faithfully implement general secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and take up the mission in the new era. We will not stop our efforts until narcotics are wiped clean. Thank you!

 

[Chen Jie]:

Mr. Huang Ri, since the Enforcement Investigations Team that you work for also plays a role in combating drugs, please share with us your thoughts on this question.

 

[Huang Ri]:

General secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on anti-drug work point the way forward for us frontline immigration administration police officers working on border anti-narcotics law enforcement. What we do plays a crucial role in the victory of the people's war against drugs.

 

In investigating and handling cases, I have witnessed many lamentable tragedies caused by drugs: young children were not properly taken care of because their drug-dealing parents were arrested; the family of one of my classmates was torn apart after his father became a drug addict; a young man was sentenced to death for dealing drugs, and his parents grieved over the loss of their child. The severe harm that drugs cause to people's physical and mental health and social security and stability always stirs up strong feelings in me. Border anti-narcotics law enforcement remains in a complex and grave situation, and we cannot afford to slack off for one minute in our efforts to crack down on drug transportation and trafficking at the border. We immigration administration police officers have our own advantages and rich experience in combating cross-border drug crimes. We are well aware that the arrest of every drug dealer and the dismantling of every gang contribute to the nation's peace and people's safety and reduce the harm they may be exposed to. After the restructuring of the CAPF Border Defense Force in 2018, I, together with my fellow comrades, became professional immigration administration police officers for the people. I am proud and cherish the opportunity to continue to perform duties on the anti-narcotics front. We will conscientiously implement general secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, unswervingly adhere to the policy of severely cracking down on drugs, show no tolerance for drugs and make persistent and relentless efforts to defend China's southern border and march forward unflinchingly to win this people's war against drugs. Thanks.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you, Zhaorui and Huang Ri. The two officers respectively shared with us their thoughts on implementing general secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on drug control in their daily work and express their determination and confidence in doing a good job in border narcotics control. Their positions and responsibilities are quite representative in the narcotics control efforts made by immigration administration authorities, and I believe what they just said would find an echo in many of their fellow comrades.

 

You may ask questions now.

 

[Southern Metropolis Daily]:

Officer Zhang Di, I noticed that you were awarded a merit citation shortly after you became an anti-narcotics police officer. Could you share with us how you seized drugs for the first time? Thank you.

 

[Zhang Di]:

Thank you for your question. That experience was actually a bit "embarrassing" to me. It happened shortly after I was assigned to Yiwu Frontier Inspection Station. I was inspecting a vehicle with our team leader, when I noticed a male passenger avoiding eye contact and fumbling for words to answer my questions. I also noticed a lot of mud on his shoes, trousers and his coded suitcase. Thus I singled him out for a thorough check. I then found out that his suitcase was heavy but did not contain many items. I used search tools to check the interlayer of the suitcase, as the team leader taught me. When I took[pulled] out the tool, I noticed a few tiny blue fragments and pieces which were tasteless. As I was about to let him go, the team leader who had been standing behind me patted me on the back, signaling the finding of drugs, and quickly brought him under control. Later the team leader told me that the blue fragments were from plastic seal bags of drugs. In this case, 3.2 kilograms of drugs were spotted in the suitcase interlayer. It was like a wake-up call for me. Since then, I learned from my colleagues with greater humility to sharpen my investigation skills, e.g. checking identity documents, observing facial expressions, touching and smelling objects and looking for signs and clues. Little by little, I made progress. Two months later, when I was checking an express delivery vehicle, I spotted and seized 19 kilograms of methamphetamine from 27 parcels of tea leaves.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you for sharing, Zhang Di. Nobody is born hero and we all need commitment, faith, a sense of responsibility and relentless efforts to become a better person.

 

We are open to questions now.

 

[Phoenix Television]:

My question is for Officer Yun. When you work undercover, do you often run into unexpected emergencies, as we often see in movies? How would you handle them in that case?

 

[Officer Yun (alias)]:

Thank you for your question. What you learn from movies is only a tip of the iceberg of reality. No matter how elaborate the planning is, unexpected and uncontrollable things that pop up during actual operation often put you in greater danger, which calls for resourcefulness and composure of frontline investigators and cooperation of supporting colleagues.

 

Let me give you an example. In an extraordinarily serious drug case that we recently solved, I put on makeup and disguised myself as the pickup henchman to receive a batch of drugs at the border. However, when I arrived at the pre-agreed pickup point, the drug dealer from abroad did not show up on time. Instead, he sent three hunks to meet me. During the negotiation, they searched me, took and checked my mobile phone, and asked me to make drug-taking tools with a mineral water bottle, a few straws and a nail clipper that they gave me. While I was making the tool, they fished for information from me, asking about my "business" scope, my "sourcing" ability and so on. I responded calmly in local accent, dealt with them skillfully, and finally gained the drug dealer's trust. After that, I successfully "received" 55 kilograms of drugs, arrested four suspects, and destroyed a hidden transnational drug trafficking channel and dismantled a drug cartel in which Chinese and foreign drug dealers collude with each other in one fell swoop.

 

In our work, although we may run into emergencies at any time and our life may be at stake, we still commit ourselves to anti-narcotics law enforcement unflinchingly, devote our utmost to the anti-narcotics cause, and earnestly honor our promise of "never rest until all drugs are wiped clean". Thank you.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Speaking of danger, well, it is commonplace for police officers on the frontline of narcotics control. It seems Mr. Huang Ri has something to share about this topic?

 

[Huang Ri]:

Yes. Indeed, you can be in danger anytime during law enforcement and investigations. Let me give you an example, a case of armed drug trafficking.

 

When we were about to give a final blow to a drug trafficking organization,  drug dealers made a last-minute change to the rendezvous, which disrupted our original arrest plan. At that time, drug dealers were coming in two cars. But we did not have accurate information on which car carried the drugs, how many people were in each car, and whether they had weapons. After stopping the first car, we caught a suspect in the back seat reaching towards his back, as if he were taking something out. In that critical moment, before we could even think, a teammate and I quickly and firmly gripped his hand and then dragged him out of the car. We later found on his lower back a loaded military pistol with a silencer.

 

At that moment, everyone was in so much shock that we broke out in a cold sweat. If we had not acted decisively enough and the drug dealer fired, someone might have been injured or even died there. It really felt like a life-and-death situation. Actually, such dangerous situations are commonplace in anti-narcotics law enforcement. In border areas, drug dealers often fought back with guns or knives, etc. There were many other life-and-death moments, for example, getting our identity revealed while working undercover in a criminal gang; drug dealers in a vehicle forcing their way through checkpoints; getting scratched and bitten by drug users or traffickers with HIV or AIDS; getting attacked by wasps or venomous snakes while keeping watch in the wild. Since embarking on this journey, my comrades and I have been mentally prepared for those dangers. We shared the same faith: whatever it takes, we must prevent drug inflow; we will never waver or back down, however vicious the drug criminals are!

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you, Mr. Huang Ri and Officer Yun. Their stories are indeed breath-taking. I was thinking that the immigration administration police officers on the anti-narcotics frontline probably have no time to think about anything else while fighting against drug criminals bravely and putting their life at risk. But their strength must have been built up day by day and came from the faith in their mind, the police badge they wear, the territory they stand on and the people standing behind.

 

Now, please continue to ask questions.

 

[China News Service]:

Officer Zheng Zhaorui, could you please talk about the common tricks and schemes used by drug dealers at the border? And how do you outsmart them?

 

[Zheng Zhaorui]:

Thank you for your question. In our daily investigation work, we find that drug dealers use miscellaneous methods to hide and transport drugs. They really use every trick up their sleeve and never stop finding new ways. For example, they hid drugs in hollowed books, food, beverages, spare tires, precious stone or hidden compartments in cars. Any space that they can find or create may be used to hide drugs. So far, we have uncovered at least 100 ways they used to hide drugs.

 

Although criminals are trying desperately to change their methods of hiding drugs, we always end up outmaneuvering them. Border anti-narcotics law enforcement is now about pitting our wits against theirs. To catch drug criminals, we have established a rigorous investigation and seizure system and combined manual inspection with equipment inspection. Through a series of equipment-assisted investigation and seizure techniques which were figured out by trial and error, we replaced “human judgment” with “intelligent analysis” in our daily work. At the same time, sniffer dogs are used as appropriate when we are on duty. With the help of well-trained dogs, we can make sure to expose drugs, and fully prevent drugs from flowing across the border.

 

[Chen Jie]: Thank you, Zhaorui. Anti-narcotics police officers really fight a battle of wits and courage. A strong sense of responsibility, rich experience and scientific methods are all critical to the fight against drugs.

 

Please continue to ask questions.

 

[People's Daily Online]:

Officer Yun, Anti-narcotics law enforcement is so dangerous, then why do you keep fighting on the frontline? Have you considered a career change, or a job change at least?

 

[Officer Yun (alias)]:

Thank you for your question. The idea of a job change hasn't crossed my mind, let alone a career change. I am willing to keep working on the frontline, as long as it is necessary. I have made this choice because of a story about "never letting go". My mentor was an anti-narcotics hero. He risked his life to fight narcotics at the border and solved many major and important cases. He was the icon that my colleagues and I looked up to and the exemplary model that we learned from and wanted to surpass. When I became a police officer for the first time, he taught me skills of investigating and handling cases step by step and made me understand the responsibilities on my shoulder. He often told me that, as an anti-narcotics police officer, once you spotted any sign or clue, you must have the courage and determination to follow it through and never let go until the case is solved and the drug dealers arrested. In 2011, when chasing a fugitive suspect, he fought so fiercely with the suspect that they fell into a rushing drainage canal together. He died a glorious death. When his body was salvaged, his right hand was still gripping the suspect's arm tightly. Despite our tremendous grief, we had to separate him from the suspect, and that took a lot of efforts.

 

My mentor's hand that did not let go even when he died gave me a great shock. He honored his promise of "never let go" in the fight against narcotics with his life. After he died, I have carried on his legacy and held fast to the frontline of narcotics control, contributing my share to win the people's war against drugs and safeguarding the security and stability of the border. This is my way to pay tribute to my late mentor and other heroes like him who sacrificed their life for the cause of drug control in Yunnan. Thank you!

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you, Officer Yun. Salute to your mentor, all the martyrs, and all the heroes that commit and dedicate themselves to the anti-narcotics cause!

 

Please continue to ask questions.

 

[Legal Daily]:

Good morning, Officer Zheng Zhaorui. Of the five police officers on the stage, you have the most medals. Could you please share with us some stories behind those medals?

 

[Zheng Zhaorui]:

Thank you for your question. It brings back my memory immediately. In 2003, I joined the police and was assigned to the “Outstanding Anti-Narcotics Station” in Mukang. The first thing I did there was to visit the Room of Medals. The extraordinary stories behind each anti-narcotics hero around me were etched on my mind and made me determined to never rest until drugs are wiped out. I also longed to make my mark and see my name on the Wall of Honors.

 

This is a third-class merit medal. It is not a medal of the highest merit, but it is my first medal. During a public drug investigation in 2006, I found and seized 6 kilograms of heroin from a bag of hollowed-out screws. This was the first time that we learned that screws were used to hide and transport drugs in China. This case earned me a huge honor and also instilled a stronger sense of responsibility in me.

 

This medal of first-class merit was awarded to me when I was selected as one of the Top 10 Border Guards in China in 2017. It is a testament to my decade-long dedication to anti-narcotics law enforcement. For me, fighting drugs is not as thrilling or dramatic as you see in thrillers. It is more about crawling under vehicles, climbing into shipping containers, and rummaging through the goods day after day, and year after year. On sunny days, we are drenched in sweat, and on rainy days, we are covered in mud. On the field, we have to suffer a large amount of exhaust gas, smoke and soot, and some travelers would complain about what we do and refuse to cooperate. Every time I think of these, I would feel some unspeakable agony. But then I would ask myself: who will safeguard our border if all of us take steps back? There was a time when drug dealers tried to corrupt me with money and beauty, but I was not in the least tempted. I always tell myself that I must never seek personal gains with power and that I must never bring discredit on the medals on my chest!

 

In fact, deep down in my heart, the medal I most crave for is the recognition of people. Investigating drug crimes everyday is very tiring, but passengers and travelers appreciate that and sometimes give me a thumbs-up behind the window of their vehicles. When I seized drugs, people would praise me. These people are strangers to me, but their kindness touches me, warms my heart, and makes me more determined to stick to my original aspiration and mission of serving the people.

 

Some people may take it for granted that the more medals you get, the better. But I don’t think so. We fight so hard against narcotics, why? Because we want to see peace and security in our country, and we want to have a “narcotics-free” world. I genuinely hope that I will never get another medal for combating narcotics, because if people no longer deal or use drugs at the border, then my dream of a “narcotics-free” world would become a reality. Hopefully, the people’s war against drugs will make that day come sooner. Thank you!

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you Zhaorui for the very honest and sincere sharing. There are countless untold stories behind these medals that we see. It turns out what the police value the most is not the medals on their chest.

 

[China Daily]:

I have a question for Officer Han Bin. We know that it would be very difficult for ordinary people to wean themselves off drugs once they become addicted. Then how do border police stations help drug users within their jurisdiction to get clean and stay clean? And how well is the job done?

 

[Han Bin]:

Thank you for your question. You are right, it is very difficult for drug users to get clean. Stopping drug users from taking drugs and helping them get clean is a systemic project. Our border police stations are mainly responsible for reducing the number of new drug users and the relapse rate, which is difficult. But however difficult it is, we will not shrink from it because it impacts the happiness and safety of people, and the social harmony, security and stability of border areas.

 

Let me give you an example. In a natural village covered by our police station, nearly half of the 100-plus villagers were drug abusers. In response, we worked with the CPC township committee and local government to help villagers get clean and rectify the problem. After more than a year of hard work, the village now reports "zero growth" in the number of drug addicts and "zero case" of drug abuse and drug trafficking for three consecutive years, becoming a well-known "Demonstration Village of Drug Control". This has also boosted our confidence and determination in proceeding with our anti-drug work.

 

To help drug users stop using drugs and get clean, we focus on the following three aspects in our daily work:

 

First, engage with villagers and investigate thoroughly. For each and every drug addict in villages, we would assign police officers, auxiliary police officers, village cadres and their family members to help and educate them. By visiting and talking to them repeatedly and coordinating with relevant units, we want to help drug addicts obtain job opportunities, and make them feel the care of their families and from the society, which would instill in them greater confidence and determination to get clean. At the same time, we, together with the local party committee and government, mobilize the villagers' committee, border guards and other forces for society-wide prevention and control efforts to continue the campaign of "Millions of Police Officers Visiting Tens of Thousands of Homes", a move that would help us earn the support and trust of the masses and gain an accurate knowledge of the number and specifics of personnel involved in drugs within the coverage of the station.

 

Second, carry out proper publicity and education activities. Considering that the border areas are home to many ethnic minorities, we carry out a campaign of "strengthening border defense through rule-of-law publicity" among communities, which specifically means translating narcotics control-related laws and regulations into short and easy-to-remember texts, and then publicizing them in villages and thus guiding ethnic minority people to recognize the danger and harm of drugs and voluntarily resist drugs. In addition, in accordance with relevant incentive measures, we encourage people to report drug-related clues, which further increases their enthusiasm for involvement in drug control.

 

Third, continue to crack down on drug crimes with greater intensity. For drug users who refuse to get clean in communities and still take or inject drugs, we would, resolutely and in accordance with the law, send them to compulsory isolated rehabilitation centers. We also continue to inspect and question with greater intensity suspicious personnel and vehicles entering and leaving border jurisdictions, enhance society-wide prevention and control, and adopt a "zero tolerance" approach to crack down on all kinds of drug-related illegalities and crimes within our jurisdiction. We are in a dogged pursuit of cutting off drug trafficking channels within the jurisdiction to eradicate the breeding ground for drug spread and make our society narcotics-free and thus more secure.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you, Mr. Han Bin. To win the people's war against drugs, we need to mobilize every force available, which is particularly true for border areas. The work done by Mr. Han Bin and his colleagues is truly impressive.

 

You may ask questions now.

 

[The Beijing News]:

I have a question for Officer Zhang Di. It is often said that anti-narcotics police officers are like "dancers on the tip of a blade" and have to navigate many dangerous situations in work. You are a very young anti-narcotics policewoman, born in the 2000s, so are you parents worried about your safety? Are they supportive of what you do?

 

[Zhang Di]:

Thank you for your question. I would be lying if I say that my parents are not worried about me, a girl doing anti-narcotics work. After I joined the police, I was assigned to do drug investigation and seizure work at Yiwu Station. To be honest, neither my family nor I were mentally prepared for that. After all, we publicly investigate and seize drugs at border inspection stations, which, despite not as daunting as working undercover in drug trafficking organizations and dealing with criminals, is still dangerous. Having learned about my task, my parents, out of worry for my safety, persuaded me to talk to my superiors sometime to change my post. I did not agree. On one hand, being a police officer means to obey job assignment. It's not up to myself. I can't just pick tasks to my liking and refuse everything else. On the other hand, I did not intend to shrink from the drug investigation assignment just because of my gender. If men can do it, women can do it as well. In fact, many policewomen have done a good job in this regard. Sometimes, women even have a natural edge over men because many of the drug traffickers we arrested are women who sometimes hide drugs in their body. Therefore, I believed that I could make my mark on the frontline of border narcotics control, proving that I, a girl in her early 20s, could also make contribution to narcotics control and earn merits. I told my parents these thoughts, and they, though still worried, did not oppose my choice anymore and instead quietly gave me support. Later, I honed my skills and was awarded merits, gradually dispelling their concern, and they are even very proud of me when talking to relatives about me.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you, Zhang Di. Our families always stand by us, and we, as police officers, always miss them and feel indebted to them for their understanding and support.

 

Now the press conference is about to wrap up, and let’s ask each of the five police officers to say what they feel most strongly about to the media, the public, their family, or their colleagues. Officer Yun, please go first.

 

[Officer Yun]:

The last leg of a journey marks only the halfway point. On the anti-narcotics journey, I will never rest until victory is secured, no matter how tough it is.

 

[Huang Ri]:

No one can afford to stand by in the war against drugs. You and I should both join in the fight.

 

[Zhang Di]:

We, the younger generation of immigration administration police officers, have the confidence and determination to pick up the baton from the older generation, commit ourselves to the task of narcotics control, defend the border against drugs and fulfill the honorable historical mission.

 

[Han Bin]:

We dedicate the prime of our life to guarding the border of our country, whatever it takes. With us at the border, the people and the country can rest assured.

 

[Zheng Zhaorui]:

We will never rest until all drugs are wiped clean. May the world become "narcotics-free" sooner.

 

[Chen Jie]:

Thank you. You all put it very beautifully and touchingly. The immigration administration force will keep fighting to make its contribution for the victory of the people's war against drugs. Our only wish is a secure and peaceful border and a narcotics-free world. May it come true soon. That’s all for today's press conference. Once again, we thank you for your presence and thank all those that support us. Goodbye!

 

Notice: The English version is only for reference. To learn more, please refer to the authoritative Chinese version.