China Exclusive: Anti-narcotics police face greater risks as drug crimes climb

The death of an armed police officer in southwest China's Yunnan province has triggered an outcry for harsher measures on drug-related crimes and better protection of officers.

Yang Jungang, chief of the border patrol team of Jiangcheng county, which borders Vietnam and Laos, died on March 7 while patrolling a rural village. His funeral was attended by thousands of people in the county.

When Yang and his colleagues were making rounds in the Kangping township, they spotted three men who appeared suspicious. The three men began running when the officers approached.

A fourth suspect hiding along the roadside began firing on the officers with a gun. Yang was fatally wounded in his chest and abdomen. All four suspects have since been on the run.

In July last year, Yang had survived another gun attack when he worked undercover to crack a drug-trafficking gang, said his college Mao Zhiguo.

"He got lucky that time. The suspect had a French shotgun, already loaded. Had Yang been slower, he would have died," said Mao.

"This time, he was in the front when the suspect attacked. He had no preparation at all," said Mao.

Rising drug-related cases, plus the use of guns, have posed grave challenges and danger to the narcotics force, officers told Xinhua. The job of a narcotics police officer is more risky than others, as the criminals resort to more violent measures when resisting arrest, they said.

The Border Patrol Brigade of the Yunnan police said in 2015 it busted 2,000 drug-related cases, nabbed 2,000 suspects and seized nine tons of drugs, a record high in the past few years.

In the last five years, at least six officers died, and 95 others were injured, it said.

Last year, at least 13 drug crimes involved the use and trafficking of guns, and 26 suspects were caught, said Li Yong, chief of staff of the brigade.

"Suspects often react violently, using weapons like knives and guns. They also ram checkpoints and toll stations, putting lives in danger," he added.

Li said the brigade have stepped up training and are exploring new tactics to reduce risks.

Yunnan is among the Chinese regions most affected by drug use, due to its proximity to the opium-growing Golden Triangle in neighboring Southeast Asian countries. It is also a source of domestic drugs. Endi