Since the start of UEFA Euro 2016, more than 200 suspects of an online soccer betting network have been arrested in China, the Ministry of Public Security reported.   

Aside from the suspects, the Ministry of Public Security also said a total of over 28 million yuan ($4.2 million) had been seized. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against all the detained suspects under investigation.

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Authorities have also busted a number of betting rings in different cities including Liaoning Province's Shenyang and Guangdong Province's Shenzhen. A total of 543 suspects were detained as part of the Jufeng-10 operation, which began on June 21.

According to Liang Ruiguo, the deputy director of the Department of Public Security, the "soccer betting gang" managed to attract "a large sum" of wagers. Officials were able to confiscate a total of 3 million yuan ($452,000), and another 90 million yuan ($13.6 million) held in more than 980 bank accounts that have since been frozen.

The Jufeng-10 operation also targeted agents based in Dongguan, Foshan, Guangzhou, Shantou, and Shenzhen. Liang added that "special efforts will be made to crack down on gambling gangs, bankers, key members, and beneficiaries."

The series of operations came after officials tightened investigations targeting web gambling rings in April.  Hunting down cross-border web gambling networks It has become a regular tasks for Chinese officials since international groups started using the Internet to create gambling websites to attract people.

The Euro 2016 football championship is currently ongoing in France. It started on June 10 and is due to end this coming July 10.

Tagsgambling, UEFA Euro 2016, online betting, soccer betting gang, Jufeng-10