Crackdown on organised crime

Minister announces three-year plan to bring down triads

BEIJING: Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi vowed to redouble efforts through a special three-year campaign to sweep out organised crime nationwide.

“As the leading force against organised crime, police must also be ready to take on criminal gangs in a variety of areas,” Zhao said.

Zhao made the remark in a media event yesterday and added they are now pushing forward the campaign in all the provinces.

He also encouraged more people to provide tips to the police so that criminal gangs can be further crippled.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council jointly released a document on Jan 24 announcing the launch of a new round in the campaign against gangs.

Then the government announced that they found that the triads had even tried taking control of political power at the grassroots level.

“Organised crime is often deeply interwoven with corruption,” said Zhao.

“Previous cases have also shown that behind gang-related crimes are usually corrupt officials who offer shelter to these criminals. Therefore, the campaign will particularly target the officials who protect them.”

Zhao further added: “Officials and public security officers who serve as ‘protective umbrellas’ for the gangs won’t be spared and must be removed from their posts.

“While targeting gangs, the police also need to focus on preventing new gangs from emerging,” he said.

To ensure the success of the campaign over three years, the central leadership decided to send 10 teams around China to supervise local authorities’ work in fighting gangs.

The first team was sent to Hebei two weeks ago. Other inspection teams will be dispatched to nine other provinces by today. — China Daily/Asia News Network

Officials and public security officers who serve as ‘protective umbrellas’ for the gangs won’t be spared and must be removed from their posts. Zhao Kezhi