Police boost transnational collaboration

The Ministry of Public Security will strengthen collaboration with law enforcement departments in other countries to crack down on transnational crimes targeting Chinese citizens, Vice-Minister Qi Yanjun said on Tuesday.

The ministry will deal harsher blows to online gambling, telecommunications fraud, overseas kidnapping and homicide and other organized crimes by intensifying cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies in joint investigations, the exchange of evidence and capture and repatriation of suspects, Qi said at a news conference in Beijing.

It will continue to strike hard against all kinds of transnational crimes involving China and its citizens, and make full use of Interpol's resources, Qi said.

China's public security authorities have launched a joint campaign in the Golden Triangle, comprising parts of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, and have worked with Laos, Cambodia and Thailand to tackle transnational crimes, he said.

Cooperation between Chinese and foreign law enforcers against transnational crimes has seen positive outcomes this year.

Last week, the Ministry of Public Security extradited a fugitive surnamed Zhang, who is suspected of organizing and leading pyramid scheme activities, from Thailand.

In another development, law enforcers in Yunnan province and Myanmar recently cooperated to capture 307 Chinese suspects involved in telecom fraud.

Public security authorities in China will make all-out efforts to promote bilateral cooperation with law enforcement departments in other countries by signing cooperation documents, setting up hotlines and holding regular meetings, Qi said.

On multilateral occasions, the authorities will join the efforts of international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, Interpol and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in a constructive manner, and make active contributions, he said.

Qi said the ministry will also work with other departments to strengthen security training and risk assessments for Chinese companies operating overseas, and step up efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens abroad.

The ministry will continue regular joint patrols with law enforcement departments of European countries which are popular among Chinese tourists, he said.

In July, Chinese police officers started a monthlong joint patrol with their Croatian counterparts in several Croatian cities, including the national capital Zagreb, to assist Chinese tourists in need of help.