Fake cab 'factory' busted by Shanghai police

A fake cab "production line" has been busted by Shanghai police with 10 people held and bogus taxis and counterfeit driving licenses seized.

Most of the vehicles were abandoned cars that were repaired, repainted and illegally fitted with taxi signs, taximeters and false plates.

Airport police had reported that a gang selling illegal cabs was active in Jiading district.

They were said to buy discarded cars for about 5,000 ($806) to 8,000 yuan. After transforming them into fake cabs, they were sold for between 18,000 yuan and 25,000 yuan.

Jiading police found three old cars near a suburban house, and scrawled notices about secondhand cars, complete with contacts, on the wall.

They established that this was where gang members stored and worked on vehicles.

Police said their investigations uncovered that the main organizer was a man surnamed Tian, who bought discarded cars at secondhand car markets.

Officers warn that fake cabs are often involved in other crimes.

Shanghai police say this year they have dealt with 219 criminal cases involving unlawful transport.

Offences included theft, robbery, rape, drug trafficking, illegal confinement and fraud, they said.

A total of 329 people have been held and more than 70 fake cabs and unlicensed cars seized, police said.