China police smash illegal surveillance groups

BEIJING - Chinese police have arrested over 800 people suspected of producing, selling and using illegal wiretapping and photography equipment, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on Friday.

Through joint efforts by police from 14 provincial regions, 13 production facilities have been destroyed, and 67 groups associated with illegal wiretapping equipment have been uncovered in the action, which took place in recent days.

The police have uncovered over 1,550 criminal cases involving the use of wiretapping equipment in blackmail, kidnapping, illegal detention and other crimes. Over 15,000 sets of equipment for covert tracking, positioning, photographing and recording have been confiscated.

An unidentified official with the MPS said this equipment seriously undermined social stability and the people's legitimate rights, adding that the police will further crack down on such illegal activity.

In the meantime, the police will coordinate with other departments to strengthen market supervision and promote legislation in a bid to eliminate these crimes.