China nabs 857 fugitives hiding in 66 countries

BEIJING • China has arrested 857 fugitives hiding overseas in a campaign to net suspects implicated in economic crimes, the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.

The fugitives, scattered across 66 countries, include 366 who turned themselves in to the police as part of Operation Fox Hunt 2015, the ministry said.

A total of 212 were implicated in cases involving more than 10 million yuan (S$2.17 million), and 39 have been on the run for over a decade, with one having evaded the law for 21 years.

Last year's operation ran from April to last month, and involved cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies and Chinese embassies. Police cooperation led to the capture of 114 fugitives hiding overseas with the aid of new identities.

Of those nabbed last year, 283 suspects were captured in South-east Asia. Two were repatriated from the United States.

China will soon launch Operation Fox Hunt 2016.

The annual operation is part of President Xi Jinping's ambitious anti-corruption campaign which was launched after he took over the reins of the country in 2012.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 29, 2016, with the headline China nabs 857 fugitives hiding in 66 countries. Subscribe