Beijing:
In a major crackdown on child traffickers, Chinese police smashed four online baby-trafficking groups and saved 382 babies earlier this month, the Ministry of Public Security has said.
A total of 1,094 suspects were held across the country in a joint manoeuvre on February 19, the ministry said.
These groups are accused of trading babies by establishing illegal online platforms and shops under the name of adoption or re-homing centres.
Criminals have turned to the Internet for illegal human trafficking in recent years, which brings difficulties for investigation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Child trafficking has a emerged as major problem in recent years with organised gangs stealing children and selling to childless couples or initiate them into begging and various other crimes.