BEIJING - Chinese police have arrested 2,749 people suspected of abducting minors from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and compelling them to participate in criminal gang activities, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday.

Since April 2011, a national crackdown on such crimes has led to the rescue of 2,274 abducted minors from Xinjiang, the report said.

The statement also revealed that in the latest operation on October 30, police in seven municipalities and provinces, including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, detained 90 suspects and rescued 28 minors.

The suspects were found to have abducted minors in Xinjiang, sent them to major cities and forced them to steal -- either with or without the threat of force -- in public areas such as shopping centers and bus stations, said the report, citing preliminary investigations.

Police have made arrangements with the help of civil affairs authorities to have the minors sent home as soon as possible, it added.