China recorded 18,000 environment-related criminal cases and 29,000 arrests

Chinese police handled 18,000 criminal cases related to environmental pollution and damage to natural resources in the first half of this year and captured 29,000 suspects, the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday.

The cases involved crimes such as environmental pollution, harm to birds and other wildlife, damage to ancient and valuable trees, illegal mining and the unlawful occupation of agricultural land, Li Jiantao, director of the ministry's bureau of environmental, resource, food and drug crime Investigation, told a news conference.

More than 3,000 ecological policing stations have been established nationwide, with 73,000 police officers urged to focus on handling cases related to river, lake, and forest conservation, Li said.

In addition, public security bodies provided administrative departments with more than 2,800 clues involving environmental damage, as well as issued over 1,800 recommendations and warning notices concerning regulatory gaps and potential risks, leading to more than 1,500 cases filed by administrators.

Last year, the ministry, along with nine other departments, issued a guideline on strengthening policing efforts in ecological protection, aiming to establish a basic ecological policing system by 2027 and develop a mature work mechanism by 2035.

Li added that police have also stepped up crackdowns against crimes harming eco-tourism, green industries, and counterfeit agricultural products and goods protected by geographical indications. Regular dialogues with businesses have been made to protect their legitimate operations, turn ecological assets into economic gains, and support the country's green transition, he added.