Photo: Sina Weibo

The Shanghai police have arrested 42 suspects of economic crimes who fled overseas and recovered illegal gains of 140 million yuan ($20.65 million) so far this year as a result of an intensifying international cooperation between the Shanghai police and their overseas counterparts. 

Among the 42 fugitives, 20 suspects were captured from nine overseas countries and regions during this summer's three-month campaign against crimes, including 14 involved in the crimes of contract fraud and illegal business operation.

The "Fox Hunt" nationwide campaign against fugitives of economic crimes who had fled overseas was launched by China's Ministry of Public Security in July of 2014. 

Over the past eight years, the public security departments across Shanghai have sent 68 hunting teams overseas in batches and captured 868 suspects of economic crimes from 47 countries and regions through measures including repatriation, extradition and persuasion. 

One of the suspects had been at large for 27 years before being captured, the longest period among all the fugitives on the run. 

Despite of the complex and changeable international situation and the differences in judicial systems, the Shanghai police have been continuously strengthening the international police cooperation under the command and coordination of the Ministry of Public Security and support from Chinese embassies in overseas countries. 

The Shanghai police have requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue Red Notices of more than 170 suspects of economic crimes who fled overseas. They also sought for cooperation with the law enforcement departments of other countries to deal with over 500 cases. 

In 2017, the Shanghai police successfully extradited economic fugitives from the United Arab Emirates with coordination of the Ministry of Public Security and the assistance of the Chinese Embassy in the United Arab Emirates. 

Despite the difficulties that the global COVID-19 epidemic had posed to the hunt for fugitives in 2020, the Shanghai police still set a new record of 128 consecutive days hunting for fugitives overseas. 

Global Times