Transnational crime ring leader arrested

BEIJING - The leader of a transnational criminal ring based in China arrived in Beijing in custody Thursday via a flight from Venezuela, the Ministry of Public Security said.

According to a statement released by the ministry, the ring is suspected of robbing, kidnapping and blackmailing overseas Chinese who are living or doing business in Venezuela.

The ministry became aware of the group after the Chinese embassy in Venezuela reported criminal cases in January 2011. Three months later, the ministry dispatched a working team to investigate, as well as asked police in south China's Guangdong province to look into the matter, the statement said.

With the help of the Venezuelan military and police, the ministry captured a man surnamed Xi on January 19 in Venezuela. Two other key suspects were seized in Guangdong.

China will maintain its crackdown on transnational crime, an official with the ministry said, adding that Chinese police have boosted cooperation with other countries in recent years.