Two Taiwanese criminal offenders, who had fled to Guangdong Province and arrested by local police, were sent back to Taiwan on Tuesday, sources with the Ministry of Public Security said Wednesday.

Guo Boyi, 36, was detained by Guangdong police on Feb. 4 this year for stealing motorcycles. Wanted of murder in Taiwan, he had absconded to Guangdong.

Qiu Yuanzhang, 61, was arrested in Guangdong on July 21 for illegally entering the mainland. Convicted of raping a minor in Taiwan, he had fled to Guangdong to escape punishment.

"The mainland has seen an increasing number of Taiwan visitors in recent years, with some criminal offenders hidden among them to escape punishment, which poses great threats to local security and people's lives cross the Straits," said sources.

The ministry therefore is taking measures to crack down on illegal activities across the Straits, such as murder, kidnapping, drug smuggling, money laundering, illegal immigration, manufacturing and selling counterfeit money.

The ministry also called for further cooperation between the two sides to safeguard people's interests and social stability.

Source: Xinhua