Authorities cracking down on border management obstruction

Public security and immigration authorities resolved a total of 18,000 criminal cases related to the obstruction of border management last year, 2.3 times more than in 2020, the National Immigration Administration said on Wednesday.

They arrested 48,000 people suspected of facilitating such crimes and about 47,000 people who illegally crossed the border — 3.6 times more and 3.4 times more year-on-year, respectively.

In addition, 2,288 vehicles and ships were seized, and 1,116 intermediaries and enterprises involved in such crimes were punished.

Qu Yunhai, deputy head of the administration, said that they also cracked down on the illegal transport of Chinese citizens overseas to engage in gambling and telecom and network fraud.

Last year, authorities investigated 17,000 criminal cases related to border management obstruction by Chinese citizens, arresting 43,000 suspects.

They also paid close attention to the illegal transportation of foreign nationals in and out of China. They investigated a large number of such cases, arresting 5,017 Chinese and foreign suspects.

"We also cooperated with and encouraged overseas law enforcement departments to capture and penalize 52 foreign suspects. Illegal entry by foreign nationals has been effectively curtailed," Qu said.

He noted, however, that immigration authorities still face tough challenges.

"Border smuggling at key ports in China is still grim and complex," he said. "Driven by excessive profits, criminals both at home and abroad are constantly reinventing their methods and have used different means to organize, transport and lead Chinese and foreign nationals to illegally enter and exit the country and engage in other illegal activities, causing practical harm to national security, social stability and the interests of the people."

The administration will continue to crack down hard on border-related crimes, continue to enforce COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control measures and resolutely maintain order at the nation's borders, he added.