Police in Akto County, in China’s Xinjiang region, arrested a man identified only as Mi on New Year’s Day 2024.[1] With the help of a drug-detection dog, officers then seized 627 grams of raw cannabis plants.[1] The arrest followed a tip that drugs might be hidden in his home.[1] The Akto County Public Security Bureau’s anti-drug brigade had received the tip on 31 December 2023, the day before the arrest, and quickly began an investigation.[1]

The county public security bureau said the operation had taken more than 600 grams of drugs out of circulation.[2] Police described the action as a joint operation by several police units, with the dog assisting.[1] The material seized was 毒品原植物大麻, cannabis in raw plant form rather than a processed product.[1]

During questioning, Mi confessed to using drugs.[1] The case was still under investigation, and no charge, court date or other suspect was named.[1]