New online series features crackdown on drugs

The Thunder, based on a massive crackdown of illegal drugs in a coastal village in Guangdong province in 2013, will run on the streaming giant iQiyi from May 7.

Directed by Fu Dongyu and Liu Zhangmu, the 48-episode drama stars Chinese mainland actors Huang Jingyu, Wu Gang, Wang Jinsong and Hong Kong star Simon Yam.

Scriptwriter Chen Yuxin recalls that he has toured to Guangdong province four times to do research, including interviewing dozens of police officers and villagers who participated in or witnessed the crackdown.

The operation, which took place on Dec 29, 2013, saw more than 3,000 police equipped with helicopters and speedboats as well as accompanied by dogs to seize three tons of methamphetamine in a raid on Boshe village, which was notorious for illegal drug production.

Dai Ying, the chief producer of the series and vice-president of iQiyi, says the drama approaches the case in a realistic way.