Three Chinese Drug Dealers in a Trio
Self-Destructed After Husband's Surrender Amid Love Conflict
"Like the Drama 'Breaking Bad'" Sparks Attention
The story of three drug dealers arrested by Chinese investigative authorities has become a hot topic among local netizens. They were caught after a love triangle conflict ended with one of them turning whistleblower, and the process resembled a crime drama so much that it earned the nickname "Chinese Breaking Bad."
On the 28th (local time), Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) focused on the recent so-called "Chinese Breaking Bad" incident that occurred in China.
Breaking Bad is a drug-related crime drama produced in the United States in 2008. In China, this incident was nicknamed as such to emphasize its dramatic, crime-drama-like nature.
The incident took place in a small town in Zhejiang Province, eastern China. According to the media, on March 13, a 49-year-old man named Dai reported to the police that his wife, Ms. Zhang, had run away after developing feelings for his second nephew, and during this process, she had used drugs.
The police who responded to the report arrested Ms. Zhang and the nephew the next day (14th). Investigation revealed that all three involved in the case were found to have used or trafficked drugs.
Dai reportedly met Ms. Zhang in 2021 through an online community. At that time, Ms. Zhang was a former convict who had served a prison sentence for drug trafficking and had been released, but Dai accepted her as his wife regardless of her past.
However, even after her release, Ms. Zhang continued to use drugs via the internet and later involved Dai as well. The two began operating as a duo of drug dealers in China.
In the second half of 2022, the case took a new turn when Dai's nephew, Mr. A, visited their home. Ms. Zhang discovered that Mr. A also had experience using drugs, and the two developed a secret relationship where they used each other while sharing affection. Eventually, in February, Ms. Zhang cut off all contact with Dai and eloped with Mr. A in a "love escape."
Upon learning this, Dai became furious and voluntarily confessed his criminal activities to the police. As a result, the trio of drug dealers was arrested en masse by local investigative authorities.
This incident shook online public opinion in China. Related videos posted on Weibo (China's version of Twitter) recorded over 6 million views.
Netizens reacted with surprise, saying things like "It feels like watching a movie," "This is Breaking Bad happening in China," and "Escape, drugs, arrest?no drama story would be this intense." A police spokesperson involved in the investigation also stated in a press release, "No TV show could compare to this incident."
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