Four Britons among group arrested in China over alleged drug offences

Seven teachers detained after drugs bust centred on English language school

The four Britons were arrested in the city of Xuzhou in Jiangsu province (EPA)

Four Britons are among a group arrested in China on suspicion of drug-related offences.

Police said 19 people had been detained, including 16 foreigners, after a drugs raid centring on an English language school in the city of Xuzhou in the eastern province of Jiangsu.

Among those arrested were seven teachers. However, the company running the academy said local media reports that a number of its students had been arrested were not correct.

China’s state radio said some of those detained worked at an English education centre operated by Education First (EF), a Swiss firms that runs language courses around the world.

An EF spokeswoman said: ”Education First China regrets the recent incident related to our Xuzhou centres.

“The alleged drug offences were limited to seven of our teachers and did not take place during working hours or impact any students. The other individuals involved in this incident are not EF students or employees.

“We take the allegations very seriously and we are fully cooperating with the authorities on this matter. All centres are operating normally.”

In a statement, the Foreign Office said: “We are in contact with the Chinese authorities following the arrest of four British people in Jiangsu province, and are providing consular assistance.”

Drug convictions can attract long prison sentences in China or the death penalty in cases of trafficking.

On its travel website, the government warns that Chinese authorities “undertake random drug testing on foreign nationals including on entry to the country”.

“If you test positive, the Chinese authorities can prosecute you regardless of where or when you consumed drugs,” it adds.

“Police raids on homes also occur – if drugs are found in your property, penalties can be extremely severe.”

In 2009, China executed Briton Akmal Shaikh for smuggling heroin despite protests that he was mentally ill.

The arrests come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between China over the recent protests in Hong Kong.

Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, warned China could face “serious consequences” over its treatment of people demonstrating against plans to allow extraditions to mainland China.

He said China needs to honour a 1984 treaty that guarantees basic freedoms to the former British colony for 50 years.

Additional reporting by agencies