BEIJING - The repatriation of fugitive Lai Changxing shows the resolution of China and Canada to honor the dignity of law and punish crimes, said a statement issued by China's Ministry of Public Security on Saturday evening.

The Chinese police are willing to continue and strengthen the cooperation with the Canadian police in cracking down on crimes and seizing fugitives, in order to uphold the justice and fairness of law, the statement said.

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The alleged smuggling kingpin Lai was repatriated to China on Saturday afternoon 12 years after fleeing to Canada, according to a statement of the ministry earlier Saturday.

Chinese police announced his arrest and read him his rights at the Beijing Capital International Airport after he was transferred by the Canadian side, the ministry said.

Lai, 53, is the chief suspect in a multibillion-dollar smuggling operation that dated back to the 1990s in the southeastern city of Xiamen.

He fled to Canada via Hong Kong in August 1999 and tried to obtain refugee status in order to evade the law.

Canadian authorities, however, ruled that Lai should not be considered a refugee and upheld his deportation, paving the way for his return to China.