Guangdong police have detained 1,071 suspects after breaking up a major online gambling ring in a special operation, according to a senior police officer.

Most of the detained suspects are bankers, key gang members and technicians who developed software and websites for online gambling, said Lu Feng, director of the general office of the Guangdong Department of Public Security.

Fifteen suspected gang heads and key members have been transferred to procuratorial units for prosecution, Lu told a news conference in Guangzhou, the provincial capital.