Police in Shantou, one of China's earliest special economic zones in south China's Guangdong Province, has smashed five gang crime cases and arrested six people for robbery, kidnapping and murder charges.
The six suspects have been charged for a series of alleged murder incidents, causing injuries and robbery in the city, including killing a private businessman and kidnapped a woman, whose family members were blackmailed for a high ransom. They also robbed 3 million yuan worth cars, money and property from the victims.
Police said the suspects are part of a criminal gang that carry weapons. Police in the city have seized four pistols and many bullets from the criminals.
According to a local police official, this is part of the country's smashing drive on gang crimes.
Meanwhile in southwest China's Yunnan Province, police has recently sentenced 32 criminals, who were all members of a gang, for being involved in gang fights, robberies, racketeering, false imprisonment and intentional injury, to prison for five to 17 years.
The gangland activities committed by the gang has severely disturbed the regular daily lives of the residents in the county, said an official with the People's Court of the Luliang County in Yunnan Province.
The punishment will help ease disturbances caused by the crimes, the official said.
(Xinhua 12/25/2000)
