US to cooperate in identifying fugitives on the run

A total of 680 fugitives suspected of economic crimes have been repatriated to China as a result of the transnational "Fox Hunt" operation launched in July. [Photo/IC]

The ministry said it will hold several bilateral meetings with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement this year, to discuss repatriating Chinese fugitives from the US and confiscating their ill-gotten funds.

Recently, the US has become one of the most popular destinations for corrupt Chinese officials and directors of major State-owned companies to flee to, transferring large amounts of funds through money laundering and underground banks. By the beginning of last year, more than 150 corrupt Chinese officials for whom red warrants were issued by Interpol were believed to still be at large in the US, according to the ministry.

Most of the fugitives were suspected of corruption, accepting bribes, embezzlement, abuse of power and misappropriation of public funds.

Last July, the ministry initiated a six-month special action, dubbed "Fox Hunt", to target Chinese suspected of economic crimes who had fled overseas and to recover their illicitly acquired proceeds.