Liu Zhaohua was arrested on 5 March 2005, sentenced to death on 26 June 2006, and executed on 15 September 2009.
21 Facts About Liu Zhaohua
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Liu Zhaohua was born in Fu'an, Fujian province on 5 March 1965.
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Liu Zhaohua was known to have been a smart and studious person since childhood.
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Liu Zhaohua was said to have a talent and interest in chemistry during middle school and kept many chemistry books at home.
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In 1983, Liu Zhaohua joined the army and studied logistics at one of the People's Armed Police schools.
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Liu Zhaohua became interested in producing drugs as a way of earning money after successfully creating a batch of methamphetamine by himself using chemistry books for reference.
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In 1994, Liu Zhaohua resigned from his job as bailiff to fully focus on his drug business.
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In 1992, Liu Zhaohua founded Fujian Hongfa Plastic, a plastic processing company near his hometown which would act as the front for his drug business.
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Liu Zhaohua used his connections from his time as bailiff to act as partners and distributors for his business.
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In early 1996, Liu Zhaohua learned the process of making methamphetamine efficiently from a retired Professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University.
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In May 1996, Liu Zhaohua used his savings to construct a factory in his hometown to produce methamphetamine on a large scale.
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Liu Zhaohua moved to Puning, Guangdong, where he continued operations while hiding under an alias.
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Liu Zhaohua established Sensen Biotechnology, a biotechnology company used for yew cultivation.
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Liu Zhaohua moved around China to visit various local universities and scientific research institutions to learn more about the process and collect plant samples and seeds, intending to synthesize pharmaceutical drugs from yew, which was even more profitable than producing methamphetamine.
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On 5 March 2005, Liu Zhaohua was arrested on his 40th birthday in a rented house after informers tipped off his location.
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Liu Zhaohua was sentenced to death on 26 June 2006 by the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court for making over 18 tonnes of methamphetamine.
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Liu Zhaohua refused to accept the judgment, claiming he never used the formula stated to make methamphetamine, which involved ephedrine, a regulated chemical.
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Liu Zhaohua had four children: one son from his first wife, one daughter from his second wife, and one son and one daughter from his third wife.
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Liu Zhaohua was said to have had an arrogant personality and believed he could not be touched by the authorities.
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Liu Zhaohua became famous after starring in a video in which he justified his role in the drug trade.
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Liu Zhaohua further stated that foreigners opened the doors of China with opium, so he should be able to open their doors with methamphetamine.