The prosecution has set up a special investigation department dealing exclusively with international crime rings.

The team is composed of officials from the prosecution, the police and the customs service.

The joint operations team will try to prevent the entry of international organized criminals from Hong Kong, Russia and Japan. It will also crack down on local crime rings with links to international mafia organizations.

The department will run an advisory council and an information analyzing team, which will help investigations into murder, rape, arson, arms trafficking and slave trade by international or domestic crime rings with overseas networks.

The prosecution's move to crack down on international crime rings came after a murder was committed by the Russian mafia in Busan last month.