The rise in gang-related crime in China has been linked to
overseas criminal syndicates, the Ministry of Public Security said
yesterday.
Evidence showed that more foreign underworld organizations were
entering China, Du Hangwei, deputy director of the ministry's
criminal investigation bureau, said at a press briefing in
Beijing.
And gangs from neighboring areas such as the Hong Kong and Macao
special administrative regions were also involved in illegal
activities on the mainland according to the ministry.
"Gang-related crime is on the rise in China as society goes
through tremendous economic and social changes," Du said. He
emphasized that no mercy would be shown to criminals "no matter
where they come from."
In February the ministry launched a crackdown on gang-related
crime and so far officers have received over 3,700 tip offs from
the public by way of phone calls, letters and e-mails.
Figures released yesterday show that 1,013 gang-related crimes
are currently under investigation with 28 cases having been
transferred to prosecutors.
Around 30 criminals have received jail terms of more than five
years, life imprisonment or the death penalty.
But the ministry would not reveal the number of cases involving
foreign gangs or whether there had been any international
cooperation in arresting them. ?
The biggest case brought to trial so far was in Loudi, in
central China's Hunan Province, last month. Up to 100
suspected gangsters have been accused of more than 20 crimes
including murder, drug trafficking and abduction.
A preliminary ruling has not yet been reached as the case is
extremely complicated according to the prosecutors.
"Some corrupt officials were collaborating with the criminals
and offered them protection which makes our investigation even
harder," Du said.
As the clampdown continues the ministry has urged local public
security bureaus to intensify police patrols at entertainment
venues, restaurants and wholesale markets where gang-related crimes
are concentrated. .
Leaders of local public security bureaus face dismissal if
criminal gangs in their localities are smashed through reports to
the ministry instead of through their own efforts, the ministry has
warned.
(China Daily May 26, 2006)