Chinese police arrest 16 suspected members of 'highly organised foreign mafia' in Guangzhou
Highly organised 'Freedom Fighters' gang had their own accountant - and priest, police allege
Police in Guangzhou have arrested 16 foreigners suspected of being members of a mafia-style gang called the "Freedom Fighters" that was involved in drug dealing and robberies.
The city's law enforcement officials reported on Tuesday that the suspects - who started out working as debt collectors - were believed to have been involved in five robberies of foreigners visiting Guangzhou, and two drug-related crimes, the China News Service reported. Two Chinese nationals were also detained.
A policeman told the South China Morning Post that the crackdown was part of a year-long special investigation into crimes including criminal gangs, robberies, drug-related crimes, food and drug counterfeiting and fraud.
Meanwhile, the public security bureau of Guangdong has offered a 20,000 yuan (HK$25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of 20 suspected gangsters, including an alleged member of the Shenzhen branch of Hong Kong's Sun Yee On triad organisation.
The Freedom Fighters gang, reportedly led by two suspects identified by police as Odunukwe Chinedu and Abdoulaye, was formed in the provincial capital in 2009.
"[The gang] started out with members working as debt collectors helping foreign businessmen to settle financial disputes, the Guangzhou Daily reported yesterday.