Shenzhen cops swoop on sex workers after TV news show

Shenzhen police captured 69 suspects involved in sex trade in a sweep of prostitution on Monday, while most sex workers arrested came from the neighboring city of Dongguan.

The report did not indicate how many customers or organizers were captured.

The operation targeted bath centers, massage parlors and night clubs in Longhua district of Shenzhen, news portal gmw.cn reported.

Some other prostitution venues in residential communities were reported by residents who were disturbed late at night.

The suspects took up half a basketball court where they were temporarily held after being caught, the report said.

The anti-prostitution campaign in Shenzhen followed a recent report by Guangdong TV about the sex trade in Longhua district that alleged police didn't act on complaints.

Reporters visited prostitution venues in the district and recorded introductions to sex services for customers along Qingquan road.

The reporters called police and watched police enter the venue 10 minutes later. They left shortly afterwards and replied that there was no sex trade at the venue.

Some 300 police returned after the report was aired.

Media reports suggest many sex workers have moved from "sex capital" Dongguan to Hong Kong, Shanghai or Hangzhou after the crackdown in February that followed a China Central Television (CCTV) show.

The high-profile crackdown was recently expanded from Dongguan to encompass the Province.

Controversies were sparked back in February over the CCTV's report that the undercover footage showing erotic services may harm sex workers as a disadvantaged group.