BEIJING - A man who is suspected of murder in southeast China's city of Sanming has been caught by law enforcement after 18 years as a fugitive, the Ministry of Public Security said Wednesday.

Suspected killer Yu Zhou recently turned himself in to a team of Chinese police in Argentina. He was escorted to Beijing aboard a plane Wednesday.

A ministry statement said the police reached Argentina on February 22 for a joint mission with their Argentine counterparts to deal with crimes committed against local Chinese.

The Chinese cops obtained a clue from the International Criminal Police Organization stating that Yu Zhou was hidden in the country. They then ascertained the fugitive's place of residence and social links through an investigation.

Citing a senior ministry official, the statement said Chinese police have confidence that criminals will be apprehended and brought to justice no matter where they flee.