Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

THE Shenzhen Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has busted eight mafia-style organizations and 29 criminal groups so far this year.

A total of 2,400 cases relating to mafia-like gang were probed and 4,177 people were arrested. Police also froze and detained 8 billion yuan (US$1.14 billion) in assets related to the crimes, according to a news conference by the CID on Thursday.

With the progress of the clampdown on mafia-related crimes, the overall public safety environment has improved with the number of cases dropping by 6.7 percent between January and November, compared with the same period last year.

“In Guangming, Longgang and Bao’an districts, police have busted three mafia-style organizations and arrested 159 suspects, leading to safety in the neighborhoods being greatly improved,” Peng Guoqing, CID director, said at the news conference.

Police also busted 50 criminal rings involved in 500 cases of blackmailing victims through illegal money lending. In Bao’an, 17 members of such a ring headed by a man surnamed Chen were sentenced to 3-18 years in jail.

So far this year, police have also busted 10 criminal rings involved in medical fraud. Bao’an District has closed 59 unlicensed medical institutions.

A total of 913 fugitives involved in mafia-style crimes have been hunted and brought to justice, including one who was hunted by the Ministry of Public Security and three caught by Guangdong Public Security Department.