Police in east China's Fujian Province recently captured three men suspected of organizing a series of illegal border crossings over the past few years.

Wu Wenfeng, Wu Wenpeng and their nephew Wu Jinhui are fishermen in Putian County in Fujian. Since 1989, all three had been helping local people cross the border illegally to emigrate overseas.

According to local police, in a failed attempt on April 25, 1999, Wu Wenpeng and Wu Jinhui tried to help 53 local people leave the country by sea.

The coastal province has often been used by "snakeheads", border crossings organizers who help local people illegally emigrate to Japan, the United States and other countries.

Local police have intensified their efforts to stop these activities in recent years.