Police have uncovered a clandestine Internet-based gambling
ring, seizing 23 million yuan (US$2.8 million) in cash and
identifying 597 suspects scattered throughout 22 provinces,
autonomous regions and municipalities, the Ministry of Public
Security said in Beijing on Thursday.
A total of 218 of the suspects have been placed in detention and
three guns have been seized. The investigation indicates that
another 500 million yuan (US$60.4 million) was involved in the
gambling operation.
The ministry believes that a Taiwan-based gambling company began
colluding with accomplices in 22 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities on the mainland to run gambling operations in March
2004.
In Beijing, police identified Wang Xin, a local agent for the
Taiwanese company and several other suspects, and obtained evidence
of 116 million yuan (US$1.9 million) in suspected gambling
money.
Shanghai police seized 87 suspects, 11.7 million yuan (US$1.4
million) in cash and evidence of 80.0 million yuan (US$9.7 million)
in suspected gambling money.
In east China's Jiangsu
Province, 106 suspects, 7.3 million yuan (US$882,000) in cash
and evidence of 160 million yuan (US$19.3 million) in suspected
gambling funds were seized.
(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2005)