Society

Beijing police nab 11 scalpers, an all-time feat

By Zhang Jiawei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-02-23 14:44

The Beijing railway transportation procuratorate said they had arrested 11 people for scalping train tickets since January this year, saying that it was the largest ever for the period in the city's history.

Qin Jianming, from the procuratorate, added that half of the busted own a college degree or above, the Beijing Morning Post reported Wednesday.

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"Some of the suspects came up with the idea of making some money by scalping tickets while buying for themselves," Qin said.

Train ticket demand overwhelmingly outnumbered supply as Chinese people were traveling for family reunions during the Spring Festival.

Buying a ticket from the train station or ticket agent during that time is almost a mission impossible for travelers, forcing many to turn to scalpers, who somehow manage to hoard many tickets.

Qin said Beijing police also busted a ticket agent who was qualified to sell train tickets but began to hoard them to sell for a much higher price during the last Spring Festival.

The suspect, surnamed Wang, was arrested along with 259 sleeper tickets from Beijing that he had hoarded, with a total face value of 70,000 yuan ($10,600). He intended to sell them at a markup of 30 to 50 yuan each.