224 held in gambling, prostitution swoops

A total of 224 people were held in a series of raids on prostitution and gambling venues over the weekend, police said yesterday.

Swoops were conducted across the city and 56 premises offering prostitution or gambling services were shut down in the operation.

Officers said that 26 of those held in the raids have been detained for trial, while the remainder were fined or received an administrative detention.

This is the eighth crackdown operation on prostitution and gambling this year, said police.

In one raid over the weekend, Pudong New Area police shut down a prostitution ring involving 14 people.

Earlier this month, a Pudong officer spotted an pop-up Internet ad for a "young model club." When he called the number, a man asked what kind of service he wanted and agreed to pick him up on Dongming Road.

The officer was taken to a "spa" and told that one-hour with a prostitute was 690 yuan (US$112). Fees were split equally between the club and the woman.

The officer made his excuses and left and at dawn last Saturday police raided the premises.

The 14 people held included the alleged gang leaders, surnamed Zhang and Yang, who are in their 20s.

According to police, they had run the club since October, with Zhang responsible for posting information online and collecting customers while Yang would bring women for customers to choose.

Police said seven prostitutes were held, plus another five people in roles such as lookouts. One employee said they could attract a dozen customers a day.

Underground casino

Meanwhile, in Minhang District, police raided an underground casino in a market and held 33 suspects.

"At first sight, it looks like an ordinary small office, but once you open a hidden door, you enter a new world," said officer Guo Yi, who took part in the raid.

The alleged owner of the casino, surnamed Nie and in his 40s, is said to have rented the office and 200-square-meter hidden room for 1,000 yuan per day.

Nie and three other suspects are now under detention and the investigation is ongoing, said police.