Six suspected scalpers detained in Beijing

A group of six people suspected of using travel agencies to scalp tickets for tourists attractions have been detained in Beijing to maintain the order of the capital's tourism market and deter relevant crimes.

The suspects were found to have allegedly used software to grab tickets for some popular tourist spots in the city, and then sought profits by selling them to visitors at higher prices, according to a statement released by the Beijing Public Security Bureau on Friday.

"The behavior has violated laws, and seriously disturbed the tourist order and damaged the tourists' legitimate rights," the bureau said, adding that police citywide have been required to crack down such offenses and violations with "zero tolerance".

In the past few months, fighting against scalpers has become a major job of public security departments and tourist attractions. The Palace Museum and the National Museum of China have both taken various measures, such as optimizing the technologies of online platforms and adjusting rules of ticket booking, to prevent scalpers from hoarding tickets.

Data released in August showed that 179 people had been detained under a crackdown jointly made by the public security bureau and the National Museum of China on illegal scramble and resale of tourist spot tickets by scalpers.