BEIJING -- Chinese police have apprehended 2,558 railway ticket scalpers in its latest campaign ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb 5 this year. Railway police have solved 2,378 scalping cases and confiscated 29,449 railway tickets and 48,804 counterfeit ones since the crackdown was launched in December 2018, the Ministry of Public Security said at a press conference Tuesday.

Around 413 million railway trips are expected during the Spring Festival travel rush lasting from Jan 21 to March 1. Tickets are in short supply due to high demand.

Moreover, railway police have solved 774 criminal cases, detained 689 suspects, busted 12 criminal gangs and seized more than 5,000 fugitives since December.

Railway police nationwide will work to combat illicit behaviors, conduct security checks to eliminate hazards, and make preparations for possible train delays caused by bad weather conditions, said Bai Shaoqiang, deputy head of the railway public security bureau.