China's Yunnan expels drug addicts from Party

KUNMING -- China's Yunnan province has dismissed 41 members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for drug abuse, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Nine were government officials in Dehong prefecture in the southwest border province, all nine were also removed from their positions.

Two retired officials were also among those expelled, both will have their compensation slashed, the Dehong Party discipline watchdog said.

The remaining people were farmers.

All 41 people have been ordered to attend drug rehabilitation treatment.

Leaders of the departments and villages where the drug addicts worked or lived also received strong words of advice from their superiors or discipline inspectors.

In May, Dehong prefecture issued an order to remove drug addict members from the Party.