Over 300 people detained, thousands of black bikes seized in Shenzhen police crackdown on illegal taxi services

More than 300 motorcyclists and riders of electric bicycles were detained on suspicion of illegally carrying out taxi businesses without licences on the first day of a crackdown in one Chinese city, mainland media reports.

Shenzhen traffic police carried out the 48-hour campaign on Tuesday and Wednesday at 150 locations across the city, Shenzhen Economic Daily reported on Wednesday.

Riders of unlicensed motorcycle taxi services in the city have been blamed for crimes including robberies.

A total of 322 people were detained and 3,406 motorbikes or electric bicycles were confiscated on Tuesday, the first day of the crackdown, the report said.

The police targeted places, including subway station exits, bus stations, ports, and commercial areas, where people offering taxi services without commercial licences often look for customers.

The two-day operation marks the start of a series of crackdowns, which are planned to last until the end of April. Five further operations would be carried out in the city, the police said.