This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-48960145
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Four Britons among foreigners arrested in China | Four Britons among foreigners arrested in China |
(32 minutes later) | |
Four Britons have been arrested in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, the British embassy in Beijing has said. | Four Britons have been arrested in the Chinese province of Jiangsu, the British embassy in Beijing has said. |
The BBC understands the arrests are part of an operation last week that saw seven foreign teachers and nine foreign students detained. | |
At least some of those being held are from an international language school, Education First. | |
Police said all 16 foreigners tested positive for drug use, but did not specify the type of drugs involved. | Police said all 16 foreigners tested positive for drug use, but did not specify the type of drugs involved. |
There are extremely severe penalties for drug offences in China. | There are extremely severe penalties for drug offences in China. |
It is not clear what the nationalities of the other foreigners are. | It is not clear what the nationalities of the other foreigners are. |
"We are in contact with the Chinese authorities following the arrest of four British people in Jiangsu province, and are providing consular assistance," the British embassy said. | "We are in contact with the Chinese authorities following the arrest of four British people in Jiangsu province, and are providing consular assistance," the British embassy said. |
On Tuesday, the Xuzhou Public Security Bureau, located in Jiangsu province, posted a statement on Chinese social media site Weibo saying police had successfully cracked a drug-related case. | On Tuesday, the Xuzhou Public Security Bureau, located in Jiangsu province, posted a statement on Chinese social media site Weibo saying police had successfully cracked a drug-related case. |
It said 19 people had been arrested, including 16 foreigners. | |
According to police, 18 people had been placed under administrative detention, which carries a maximum detention period of 15 days. One person was placed in criminal detention - a procedure that usually leads to a formal arrest and an indictment. | According to police, 18 people had been placed under administrative detention, which carries a maximum detention period of 15 days. One person was placed in criminal detention - a procedure that usually leads to a formal arrest and an indictment. |
Police did not name the school involved, but state news agency Xinhua later reported that some of the teachers were from the Switzerland-based Education First (EF) Centre. | |
The EF centre told Xinhua it had a "zero tolerance" policy towards drugs, adding that it was deeply regretful that some of its teachers were involved. | The EF centre told Xinhua it had a "zero tolerance" policy towards drugs, adding that it was deeply regretful that some of its teachers were involved. |
It said the drug-related incident had taken place during "non-work" hours. | It said the drug-related incident had taken place during "non-work" hours. |
EF first entered China in 1998 and has around 2,000 English teachers now based in the country. | EF first entered China in 1998 and has around 2,000 English teachers now based in the country. |
The company says it hires teachers full time, on 12-month contracts and says there is no need for its teachers to speak Chinese to teach in China. | The company says it hires teachers full time, on 12-month contracts and says there is no need for its teachers to speak Chinese to teach in China. |