A criminal, who had been chased for 10 years before being caught, has been sentenced to five years and three months behind bars for joining a mafia-type gang and trafficking drugs.

Jing’an District People’s Court said the defendant, surnamed Li, 42, had joined a local gang, formed by more than 20 out-of-towners, in April 2006.

The gang trafficked drugs and Li’s job was to drive and collect drug money for the ringleader, identified as A Qiang, the court added.

Li left the gang after three months, taking with him ill-gotten gains of 10,000 yuan (US$14,720), after he had quarreled with A Qiang over money issues.

Li was eventually caught in Henan Province.