Hong Kong and Shenzhen police have shut down two Shenzhen-based illegal horseracing and soccer bookmaking syndicates, arresting 16 people and seizing $34 million worth of betting slips.

The syndicates have been operating since last year. They allegedly opened websites and bank accounts to take bets while the syndicate members received bets from Hong Kong gamblers.

Hong Kong Police arrested five men and three women aged 29 to 52 on June 11 for bookmaking and money laundering. They seized $30 million worth of betting slips, $50,000 cash, five computers and a large amount of bank slips.

Shenzhen officers arrested seven men and one woman aged 32 to 71 for bookmaking and drug offences, seizing $4 million worth of suspected betting slips, five computers and a small amount of drugs.