A new division is being planned to combat growing mafia-style gangs in the country, a senior official of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has said.

"Based on the resources of the existing organized crime investigation division, a special department will be set up to tackle the problem," a director of the organized crime investigation division, who declined to be named for security reasons, told China Daily.

He said the ministry also plans to push for legislation to better tackle such crimes. "It is ideal to have a special regulation or law," he said.