XIAMEN - Two suspects accused of fundraising fraud have been returned to the Chinese mainland from Taiwan, police in the southeast coastal city of Xiamen, Fujian province, said on Monday.

A suspect surnamed Ye is escorted by two Taiwan policemen to the airport in Taipei on Dec 17, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

It marked the first time for alleged economic criminals to be returned to the Chinese mainland from Taiwan through the cooperation of both sides.

The suspects, surnamed Ye and He, were handed over to Xiamen police by authorities in Taiwan at the Taipei Songshan Airport on Monday. They returned to the mainland later in the evening.

The duo is accused of setting up a company in 2009 and illegally raising 920 million yuan ($146 million) from eight people, promising them high returns.

Xiamen police have placed the two suspects in criminal detention and a further investigation into the case is underway.