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)