These egregious practices have not only inflicted grave damage on the Party, the People’s Government, and the people’s public security organs in the eyes of the masses, but also further fueled the rampant spread of drug abuse throughout society. Therefore, at the conclusion of the Three-Anti Campaign, in coordination with the railway, transportation, customs, and other relevant departments, it is imperative to launch once more a large-scale mass campaign to eradicate drugs. Whether they are engaged in drug use, theft and resale, trafficking, production and sale, or in covering up for drug offenders, all such acts by public security personnel constitute serious violations of the law and must be dealt with strictly. In general, penalties should be imposed in accordance with the measures applied to corrupt officials, meting out punishment commensurate with the severity of the offense and the specific circumstances, without any leniency. It would be advisable to address this group of criminals collectively after dealing with cases of corruption, so as to foster a widespread aversion to the shameful practice of drug trafficking and to root out this pernicious phenomenon once and for all.

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Comments on Xu Zirong’s Report [1] Concerning Police Officers Engaged in Drug Trafficking and Smuggling, as Well as in Covering Up for Drug Offenders (April 8, 1952) Comrade Fuchun [2], after reading this, please forward it to Comrade Xu Zirong: Last time, Comrade Fuchun proposed the establishment of a special task force to deal with the drug problem, together with other specialized task forces. Please promptly submit a list of personnel and consult with Comrade Xu Zirong. The views put forward by Comrade Xu Zirong [3] are sound. Mao Zedong, April 8. Printed from the manuscript. Notes [1] Xu Zirong was at that time Vice Minister of Public Security of the Central People’s Government. [2] Fuchun refers to Li Fuchun, who at the time served as Deputy Director of the Financial and Economic Commission of the Administrative Council and as Deputy Director of the Central People’s Government Committee for Savings Inspection. [3] This refers to the opinions set forth by Xu Zirong in his report dated April 8, 1952, addressed to Mao Zedong and to the central authorities, concerning police officers involved in drug trafficking, production and sale of narcotics, theft and resale of confiscated drugs, and protection of drug dealers. The report stated that since the beginning of the Three-Anti Campaign, numerous serious drug-related criminal activities had been uncovered among staff members of the public security organs.