A whistleblower receives a one-million yuan reward for reporting a most wanted drug convict in Lufeng, Guangdong province, July 12, 2017. (Photo/Guangzhou Daily)

A man was rewarded 1 million yuan for reporting a most wanted drug convict at a rewarding ceremony held by local police in Lufeng, Guangdong province, July 12, Guangzhou Daily reported.

A large-scale drug smuggling case was cracked in Guangdong on February 12, 2016. The police seized 2,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and arrested 33 suspects. However, the main criminal, Zheng Sen, got away. Zheng, 46, is a resident of Jiazi Town in Lufeng City. Lufeng police offered a reward for information leading to his arrest.

On May 12, 2017, Lufeng police raised the reward to one-million yuan and posted the reward notice in all villages and communities across the city.

On June 30, Lufeng police received a tip that Zheng had fled from his hiding place in Huilai County to Yuchi Village, Jiaxi County. Zheng was finally arrested in the early morning of July 1.

The man who provided the information received the one-million yuan cash reward. Four others were rewarded 100,000 yuan for providing useful information. To protect their identities, police allowed them to wear helmets at the awarding ceremony.

Lufeng police started the reward program to fight drug-related crimes in 2016. Whistleblowers who report wanted drug convicts can get a reward of 100,000 yuan. A maximum reward of 300,000 yuan is offered for reporting drug trafficking and drug manufacturing, and a maximum of eight-million yuan is available for reporting drug smuggling at sea. A total of 12 million yuan has been rewarded since the program was launched.