BEIJING -- Police across China have arrested 463 suspects in counterfeit money-related crimes and confiscated fake notes worth 118 million yuan ($18.5 million) in a special crackdown, said the Ministry of Public Security.

In one major case, police in Huilai county in South China's Guangdong province arrested four suspects and confiscated nearly-finished fake notes worth more than 80 million yuan as well as manufacture equipment in May, according to a statement released Sunday by the ministry.

The crackdown is part of a special campaign launched in March against economic crimes.

"Fake note cases and the amount of fake notes discovered by financial institutes have been decreasing under sustained crackdowns. Police departments will continue efforts to deal with major cases to ensure people's interests and the country's economic security," said the statement.

Figures from the ministry show that a total of 2,821 suspects have been arrested for counterfeit money-related crimes since 2010, and four were given death penalty for manufacturing fake notes.