BEIJING, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Police across China have launched investigations into illegal business operations such as hoarding and price gouging as China continues its crackdown on crimes related to the novel coronavirus epidemic.

The Ministry of Public Security, together with the State Administration for Market Regulation, has required local authorities to strengthen the coordination of law enforcement and justice departments to strictly and promptly punish hiking up prices of protective equipment and daily commodities.

Police in Guangdong, Liaoning, Shandong and Hubei provinces have been investigating in cases where the suspects had been profiteering through selling masks at exorbitant prices.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, anyone involved in illegal activities such as hoarding, hiking up prices of epidemic prevention products, medicines or daily commodities and profiteering that seriously disrupt the market shall be held accountable for the crime of illegal business operations.