'Fox Hunt' operation extradites suspect from Morocco to China
By YANG ZEKUN | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-11-18 15:18
The "Fox Hunt" operation working group of the Ministry of Public Security extradited an economic crime suspect surnamed Luo from Morocco to China on Saturday, marking the first successful case since the extradition treaty between China and Morocco took effect in 2021, the Ministry of Public Security said.
The "Fox Hunt" operation is a crucial component of the "Sky Net" operation, an initiative launched by the central anti-corruption coordination group for pursuing fugitives and recovering stolen goods. In 2022, Chinese law enforcement agencies apprehended over 700 suspects involved in various forms of economic crimes who had fled overseas via the "Fox Hunt 2022" operation.
According to the ministry, Luo took advantage of his position to steal the key passwords of the company's bank accounts while serving as a senior financial executive of a company. Then he transferred millions of yuan from the company's accounts to his personal account without authorization, causing significant losses to the company. Then Luo fled to Morocco.
In February 2020, police in Shanghai filed the case for investigation, and in July 2022, Interpol issued a red notice for him.
In April this year, police in Morocco captured him. Then Chinese public security organs requested his extradition from Morocco based on the bilateral extradition treaty.
At the end of October, a court in Morocco ruled in favor of extraditing Luo to China. Later, a Chinese working group was sent to Morocco for the extradition.
An official from the ministry said that the successful extradition of Luo has landmark significance for consolidating law enforcement and judicial cooperation between China and Morocco, and it also accumulates valuable experience for future extradition cooperation efforts by the Chinese police.
The public security organs will persist in the commitment to pursue fugitives across the globe and continue to strengthen international cooperation, resolutely bringing overseas criminal suspects to justice, said the official.
