SHANGHAI: A criminal gang specializing in Internet porn has been smashed and 13 people detained over a cluster of websites that attracted 12 million members.

The gang, named Dikawen, manned 13 websites over a two-year period, said the Suqian public security bureau, Jiangsu province.

If Dikawen has been completely dismantled as police say, it would signify a major blow to one of three major porn web groups operating in China.