Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand rebooted the Mekong River joint patrol on July 19, initiating a crackdown on gun violence and cross-border crime.

Two Chinese vessels departed at 09:00 on Tuesday from Jingha Port, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, signifying the official launch of the latest operation, which will last four days and three nights.

In order to curb the increasingly rampant crime involving illegal guns and explosives, the authorities decided to launch an offensive from July to December this year.

Over the past decade and more, the four-country joint patrol has become a successful model of international law enforcement cooperation.