BEIJING, July 29 -- The Beijing Tourist Committee, along with several other city administration departments, arrested hundreds of members from the illegal tour guide groups providing "Black One-Day Tours" in Beijing, Beijing Times reported.

The local police claimed that jade shops near Changping District had been hiring tour guides to persuade tourists to purchase extremely overpriced jade.

The Beijing Tourist Legal Department, along with police forces, initiated the crackdown operation on the afternoon of July 16, successfully eliminating two illegal tourist groups as well as arresting 86 group members, among whom 20 are tour guides.

An illegal profit of over 30,000 yuan has been discovered, along with other items that would serve as evidence of their illegal activity.

The police forces in Haidian District also initiated a crackdown on local gangs that demanded protection fee from tour guides on July 18, arresting 6 suspects.