China detains over 30,000 in crackdown on gambling and pornography

Chinese authorities have detained at least 30,000 people in a two-month crackdown on gambling and pornography, according to state news agency reports.

In the most recent arrests, police in the southern region of Guangdong arrested 3,014 people and placed over 8,000 in criminal detention, Xinhua news agency quoted the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department as saying.

Last month, police raided an online gambling racket in Huizhou City which was involved funds up to 30 million yuan (£3.09m).

Chinese authorities have also continued to carry out a campaign against pornography in line with President Xi Jinping's clamp down on freedom of expression and corruption in the country.

Gambling has been illegal on mainland China since 1949, according to Reuters, but a state lottery remains active.

Earlier this week, Xi visited the gambling hub of Macau - the former Portuguese colony situated near China's mainland - and called on the government there to "strengthen and improve regulation and supervision over the gaming industry" and find "greater courage and wisdom" to do so.

In the city of Macau, which holds a population of half a million people, gambling brought in $42.5bn (£27.17m) last year, according to the Times of India.