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Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County is located in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, near the country's borders with Vietnam and Laos. Due to its special geographic location, being the only place in the province that connects the two countries with China, the area has attracted many drug traffickers. To combat rising crime in the area, a special group has been set up in the region.

Behind the beautiful scenery, this peaceful and tranquil border town is overshadowed by something else - drug trafficking.

To confront the situation, a group of officers and soldiers have formed the Frontier Police Force Unit of Jiangcheng, and are tasked with shouldering the important mission of combating drug trafficking along the 183-kilometre-long border. Their mission is made tough by the harsh conditions that dot region.

Among them, a young girl draws our attention.

Instead of wearing hair ties and dresses like her peers, Wu Mingyan is choosing the uniform. As the only female on the team, Wu has worked in this remote town for more than two years.

Wu Mingyan, Jiangcheng Frontier Police Force Unit, said, "Some drug traffickers are pregnant women, and when we are collecting the evidence, body searches are needed. As the only female on the team, I am the only person who can do this. So I think my job is really important in combating drug trafficking. And also working with my colleagues under such harsh conditions, has taught me a lot. And during the past years, the achievements we've made make us feel better."

But it was a different picture ten years ago.

In this village in Jiangcheng County, about 15 percent of the villagers took drugs in the past. But things started to change when the patrol forces began operating in the area. Local residents, many of whom have now kicked the habit, are also providing help to the team.

A villager said, "I started to take drugs when I was young. At that time, I couldn't do anything useful. But my life's getting better and better after I gave up taking drugs. The frontier police force gave lessons to us sometimes, they really cared about us. Also, we know the local surroundings better than they do, so sometimes we will provide help for them."

But the real battlefield is along these rugged mountains. To hide their activities, drug traffickers prefer to use pathways hidden in the mountains rather than highways. To flush them out, officers and soldiers have gone into the mountains. Such searches can go the whole day, putting strain on the force. Biscuits are the only food they can have in the dense forest. And if that runs out, they have to resort to bamboo.

Despite the harsh conditions, so far no one has quit the team. Last year, they saw great success but the fight will still go on as drug traffickers threaten to take over this peaceful border town.

There's no doubt that this team is on the frontlines protecting the nation.

 

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