Lin Weixiong, deputy director of Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, and his colleagues inspect knives and other tools seized by police in the first four months of the year. [Photo by Fang Junming/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

A senior police officer from the southern province of Guangdong promised to redouble efforts to fight crime in the prosperous region, window of China's reform and opening-up, in the months to come.

Lin Weixiong, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, said top priority will be given to gang-related and violent crimes as well as their protective umbrellas.

"Guangdong police have zero tolerance for crimes involving secret societies and violent gangs that threaten the lives and property of local residents," he reiterated.

More special campaigns will be launched in the following months to fight against such crimes, Lin said at a news conference in the provincial capital of Guangzhou on Tuesday.

To better fight crime, the department established a new research center on new types of crimes earlier this month.

The center will focus on studying and investigating new types of crimes, including telephone and online fraud, trick loans, campus loans and other offenses which have become a new threat to local residents.

Guangdong awards locals who tipped off police in crackdowns of violent and secret society-related crimes on Tuesday. [Photo by Fang Junming/ for chinadaily.com.cn]

Lin urged locals to actively tip off police with information on such crimes to contribute to constructing a good and harmonious society in the province, one of the country's economic powerhouses.

"Anyone who tips off police will be awarded up to 50,000 yuan ($7,400) if their information helps police detain at least one suspect, and police will never reveal the identity or background of the reporters," he said.

The public security department posted rewards for the capture of 30 suspected gang and secret society organization members, now on the run, on Tuesday.

Lin's remarks came after police across Guangdong busted more than 130 secret society-related organizations and another 400 mafia-style gangs in the first four months of the year.

More than 69,400 suspected gang members have also been detained.

More than 10 billion yuan in assets previously owned by mafia-style gangs were frozen during a province-wide special campaign launched between January and April.

In March, police in Qingyuan detained 46 suspected gang members after busting a local criminal gang in a special operation.

Police seized more than 100 mobile phones and 20 computers after cracking down on the gang, while more than 48 million yuan in properties and cash — and securities valued at 200 million yuan — have been frozen.

The gang was found to have victimized more than 80,000 residents across the country via online fraud, loan sharking, trick loans and fake invoices and contracts.

Police in Foshan, Zhaoqing, Yunfu, Huizhou, Shenzhen, Shantou, Shanwei, Zhuhai, Heyuan and Dongguan have also cracked down on gangs in the first four months, Lin added.