BEIJING — Public security organs across China have cracked more than 16,000 criminal cases of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement and counterfeiting so far this year, said the Ministry of Public Security on Dec 24.

Police nationwide have busted more than 9,100 counterfeiting dens and arrested more than 27,000 suspects. The cases involve a total value of more than 18 billion yuan (about $2.75 billion), according to a statement issued by the ministry.

Amid this year's COVID-19 epidemic, public security organs have paid extra attention to crimes involving IPR infringements and fake products in areas of food, drug, and epidemic-related materials, said the statement.