According to The Ministry of Public Security, 88 fugitives were nabbed by Chinese officials on Saturday following months of being hunted for allegedly taking part in economic-related crimes.

Eleven of the 88 suspects were reportedly at large for more than a decade. The Ministry of Public Security noted that 35 of the 88 arrested suspects were being asked to fly back to China from the United States, Canada, and Belgium.

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Another had been on the run for 14 years when he was captured in Canada. The suspect, who was identified solely by the surname 'Wang', allegedly stole over 60 million yuan when he was in China. 

Another suspect who was not identified is believed to have stolen over 100 million yuan through contract swindling and was caught by the police in the Anhui Province of China with the help of Thai officials.

The manhunt for economic criminals has been dubbed "Fox Hunt 2014" and its goal is to put a stop to corrupt officials in the country as China works hard to decrease graft and corruption.

Chinese officials noted that due to the lack of extradition treaties with some foreign nations, the process is slow and the international hunt for suspects will most likely continue until the end of the year.

They further noted that their search for the fugitives extends across more than 40 countries and regions.  

According to authorities, Chinese officials who have taken part in corrupt practices have been fleeing the country since 1980 in order to live abroad. According to the figures released, over £960 million have already been stolen from China through corruption, bribes, and swindling. 

The Chinese President who was elected back in 2013, Xi Jinping, is the organizer of the 'fox hunt.' He is working alongside Wang Qishan, the 66-year-old historian running the department of anti-corruption unit in Beijing. 

Last year, 762 people were returned to China as they are also suspected of having taken advantage of their power while in certain positions in the government.

TagsChinese officials, fugitives, Chinese politicians, Fox Hunt 2014, international man hunt, Fox Hunt, Anti-corruption, economic crimes