Life behind the lines of an undercover narcotics officer

Zhang Wei (pseudonym) still remembers his first undercover operation as a narcotics officer back in 2004. He and a female colleague posed as a couple to meet a suspected drug trafficker and confirm the location of a deal.

It was a relatively straightforward assignment, but Zhang admitted he was "a little excited and nervous" — feelings that nearly led to a fatal mistake. In the middle of the operation, he slipped into his native dialect instead of speaking Mandarin, potentially exposing his background.

"My partner gave me a quick cue, and I switched back immediately. Fortunately, the trafficker didn't notice," he said.

That close call taught Zhang just how high the stakes were — and it was also a pivotal moment that solidified his commitment to the job.

For more than two decades since, Zhang has risked his life working in the shadows to fight drug-related crime in Yunnan province.

Operating quietly behind the scenes, he has helped bring numerous traffickers to justice, all while keeping his identity hidden.