Fijian authorities say the removal of 77 Chinese nationals from Fiji at the weekend was as a result of a police cooperation deal between the two countries.
The 77 suspects, shown here in pictures released by China's Xinhua news agency, were paraded when they landed in Changchun, in China's northeast. Photo: Xinhua
The Fiji police have issued the first official statement since the operation was revealed by China's state media.
The deportations were described as a joint operation between Fijian and Chinese law enforcement agencies under an existing Memorandum of Understanding.
China's Ministry of Public Security had asked for assistance from the Fiji police regarding the group's alleged involvement in certain illegal activities which were in breach of their visa conditions.
The statement said the Fiji Police Force and the Department of Immigration facilitated the protocol and approval for the investigation was sought from the relevant authorities.
The statement said the month-long operation was in accordance with relevant laws and regulations of Fiji.
It said no Fijian was a victim of the group's alleged illegal activities.
