China vows zero tolerance on civil servants taking narcotics

The National Narcotics Control Commission (NNCC) on Thursday issued a circular vowing zero tolerance for government functionaries taking hard drugs.

The NNCC called for more to be done to uncover officials engaged in recreational drug use. Public tip-offs will also be encouraged, it said.

All local civil servants will be drug tested during the recruitment process, especially in regions where narcotics use is rampant, the circular said.

Newly recruited civil servants will also be cross checked on the police database of registered drug users, and people with a criminal record for drug use will be discharged.

Police across the country will strengthen checks on hotels, entertainment venues, private clubs and rented apartments, the NNCC said.

Figures from the NNCC showed that there is a rise in the number of officials taking drugs and this has a toxic effect on departments. Most of the official abusers take synthetic drugs, the statistics showed.

State officials found guilty of drug-related crimes will be subject to harsh punishments, according to a judicial interpretation on drug-related convictions, released on April 7 by the Supreme People's Court. Endit