Major crackdown on organized crime in Guangdong

Two mafia-style gang heads have been sentenced to death while a further 220 key gang members have received prison sentences of at least 10 years.

The rulings were made on Dec 15 in South China's Guangdong province.

Wu Zhuyou and Chen Shixuan were convicted of organizing mafia-style gangs, monopolizing local markets, drug trafficking, operating unlawful casinos, loan sharking, possession of weapons, provoking disputes and organizing gang fights, according to Yang Zhenggen, deputy president of Guangdong High People's Court, on Thursday.

The rulings have dealt a heavy blow to gangs in the province's rural areas and will deter other suspected gangsters in Guangdong province, one of the country's economic powerhouses, Yang on Thursday told a press conference on.

By Dec 15 courts in Guangdong province had opened trials for a total of 612 cases, which involved the organization of secret societies and other criminal gangs in Guangdong since the beginning of the year.

"In addition to Wu and Chen, a total of 2,673 gang members have received their punishment after the public hearings," Yang said.

Meanwhile courts in the province have confiscated properties valued at 202 million yuan ($30 million) from the criminal gangs, he added.