YONGNING COUNTY, CHINA – In a surprising turn of events, a 10-year-old boy in China alerted local authorities about his father’s illegal possession of drugs after being scolded for not completing his homework.
The incident, which occurred in early January in Yongning County, unfolded when the boy, upset by his father’s reprimand, stormed out of their home in anger. He stopped at a nearby shop, where he used a phone to dial China’s emergency number, 1010, to report the matter.
The fifth-grader informed police that his father was hiding poppy shells—a banned substance under Chinese law—at their residence. Authorities arrived shortly after, and the boy waited for them to conduct a search.
During their investigation, officers discovered eight dried poppy shells hidden on the balcony. The father explained that he intended to use the poppy shells for medicinal purposes. However, possession of poppy husks without authorization is strictly illegal in China. The man was detained, and the case has been transferred to the Anti-Narcotics Brigade for further investigation.
In response to the incident, Chinese authorities issued a stern reminder to the public that possessing poppy husks is a punishable offense. While historically used in traditional medicine to relieve pain and stress, poppy husks are strictly regulated due to their potential use in producing opium.
The case also reignited discussions about China’s tumultuous history with opium. The substance played a central role in the 19th-century Opium Wars between China and Britain, which resulted in widespread addiction and left the country defeated and humiliated on the global stage.
The boy’s decision to report his father reflects the growing emphasis on anti-narcotics education in China and underscores the serious consequences of drug possession under the country’s strict laws.
