The Macao police have launched a major anti-crime swoop over the weekend and netted 97 suspects for questioning, local media reported on Monday.

The Macao Post Daily quoted police sources as saying that the police forces raided a number of night clubs, casinos, video game centers, hotels and guesthouses late on Sunday.

Some 190 people were questioned "on the spot," including 126 from the Chinese mainland, the sources told the newspaper.

The police took in 97 for identification purpose and further investigations, the sources were cited.

The swoop was believed to be "a clean-up" operation ahead of an annual joint working meeting between the security forces of Macao and the neighboring mainland province of Guangdong, which was slated to be held in Macao from Wednesday to Friday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2006)