New Agency Formed to Track Down Fugitives Hiding Abroad

China’s Ministry of Public Security has formed a new agency to deal with fugitives who are hiding overseas.

According to China Daily, the ministry issued a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 27, saying that the Department of Overseas Fugitives Affairs will assist China to bring to justice fugitives who have fled overseas besides retrieving stolen funds. Furthermore, the "Fox Hunt" campaign that was established last year to track down such fugitives will continue this year.

The ministry unveiled that 2015 saw 857 fugitives being brought back to China from 66 countries and regions between April and the end of December.

Law enforcement authorities established the "Fox Hunt" campaign in April as part of the "Skynet" campaign interested in suspected economic criminals.

The same publication pointed out that out of the 857 suspects, 366 surrendered themselves to the Chinese police, local law enforcement officers caught 477 of them, and 14 were prosecuted in local courts.

The statement from the Ministry of Public Security alleged that 212 suspects embezzled or took bribes of up to 10 million yuan. Among these suspects, 48 were allegedly connected to cases involving over 10 million yuan ($15.2 million).

According to the statement, 39 of the suspects had been living overseas for over a decade, with one of them being in hiding for 21 years. The ministry revealed that 122 fugitives were linked with vocational crimes, a term used in China to refer to corruption.

Reports indicate that the ministry, in collaboration with regional police, sent more than 50 teams to overseas nations and regions to work closely with local law enforcement agencies and Chinese diplomatic missions to track and capture the fugitives. Two suspects were deported from the United States and a total of six were sent back from Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain and Hungary.

Another 283 fugitives were arrested in Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.