Guangdong crackdown breaks soccer betting ring

Police have detained another 103 suspects after busting a major soccer betting syndicate in an ongoing crackdown against online gambling in Guangdong province.

Liang Ruiguo, deputy director of the criminal investigation bureau of the Guangdong provincial Department of Public Security, said police also seized cash valued at more than 3.06 million yuan ($470,700), plus numerous computers, credit cards, bank cards, mobile phones and other betting equipment. More than 90 million yuan in 983 bank accounts was frozen after the raid.

The operation, code-named Jufeng-10, was launched on June 21. So far, 543 suspects have been detained.

"The soccer betting gang was found to have illegally attracted a large sum of bets on matches after the European Cup kicked off on June 11," Liang told a news conference on Tuesday.

The suspects, including the suspected gang head, surnamed Huang, were detained following raids simultaneously launched in Foshan, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan and Shantou.

Huang, 37, is a native of Shantou, Guangdong province.

In Foshan alone, more than 800 police officers participated in the operation.

"Police across the province are now busy pursuing and capturing other suspected gang members who are still on the run," Liang said.

He said the monthlong European Cup is usually the peak period for illegal soccer bets, but police have enhanced their investigations, particularly in the Pearl River Delta region.

Guangdong police also expanded cooperation with counterparts in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions to fight illegal online soccer betting, Liang said.

"Special efforts will be made to crack down on gambling gangs, bankers, key members and beneficiaries," he added.