On March 19, police officers from China and Laos captured five men as they tried to smuggle more than 500 kg of narcotics on the Mekong River.

That case not only marked the first time the countries had cooperated to combat drugs trafficking, it also laid the foundation for the ongoing crackdown, which also includes Myanmar and Thailand, according to the Ministry of Public Security.

Yu Haibin, an officer with the ministry's narcotics department, took part in the investigation.

"We got a lead that a gang might transport drugs on the river in November, so we talked to the Laos police authority," he said.

In March, Chinese officers received another tip about the same gang and started the investigation.

"Only several commanders from the two countries were kept informed,"Yu said.

Pang Weihua, a officer who joined the operation, said he did not know what the task was until when he was dispatched to a contact station between China and Laos.

It was said the gang would pass through the station, but they did not appear until morning on March 19, he said. "After a discussion, we decided to stop them upriver."

However, a shoal in Laos was about 60 kilometers far from the station, but all Pang had were four motorboats that had never been driven more than 18 km.

"We finally decided to have a try, or else the drugs might be removed or sold at that area," Pang said. "We found the target after about two hours."

The principal suspect was found in a bathroom, and the drugs were discovered below deck.

- Cao Yin

(China Daily 05/21/2013 page5)