Zheng announced that the "5.30'' international piracy case has been solved by the Zhuhai Public Security Bureau with support from the maritime security departments of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries.

Zhuhai and Shenzhen coast guard officers intercepted the stolen "Global Mars'' oil tanker in Zhuhai sea area on May 30.

The Panama-registered tanker was owned by Japanese Alavanca company.

Loaded with 6,000 tons of palm oil, "Global Mars'' was stolen on February 23 on its way from Malaysia to India.

International Maritime Bureau (IMB) and other maritime organizations reported to Chinese Bureau of Frontier Defence to help catch the suspected tanker in Chinese waters on May 30.

Zhuhai Public Security Bureau then investigated the ship and searched in Guangdong, Guangxi and Guizhou provinces.

With help from Hong Kong police, maritime organizations of Thailand, Philippines and Myanmar, it was found that the tanker taken into custody was the missing "Global Mars.''

The tanker was formally returned to its owner on August 3.

Commending the success of the investigation, Fu Zhenghua, a Ministry of Public Security official said, "China is active and consistently combating piracy and other maritime crimes.''

China has successfully solved six major cases of international maritime crimes.

Three of them were solved by Guangdong police, including catching the stolen Thailand "OMYII'' oil tanker in June 1999.

Zheng said that Guangdong police was confident and capable in its ability to fight maritime crimes.

(China Daily)