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Police arrested over 1,000 people and seized illicit goods worth more than $33 million during a tripartite anti-crime joint operation mounted by the Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau Police authorities between October 8 and November 8.
Senior Superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, Mr Cheuk Hau-yip, said at a press conference today (November 8) that the intelligence-led enforcement operation, codenamed "Thunderbolt 10", was aimed at curbing the illegal activities of triad societies and organised crime syndicates, neutralising cross-border crimes, and interdicting the criminals' source of income.
He said another objective of the operation was to strengthen anti-crime operations and raise public awareness of crime prevention at the approach of the Asian Games, to be held in Guangzhou.
During the operation, police conducted searches on nearly 3,000 locations including discos, amusement game centres, massage establishments and residential units. A total of 1,078 people were arrested for various offences, including triad-related offences, drug offences, money laundering, managing vice establishments, breach of conditions of stay, illegal gambling, bookmaking, possession of offensive weapons and the possession and publishing of pornography.
The arrested persons included 633 men and 445 women. Among them, 360 were Mainlanders and 22 were Mainland illegal immigrants.
During the operation, police also seized about 5.2 kilograms of ketamine, 3.5 kilograms of cocaine and other drugs, worth about $5.19 million in total.
About 180,000 pornographic and pirated compact discs worth about $6.37 million were also seized.
In addition, the seizure also included $18.55 million worth of soccer and horseracing betting records plus some 640,000 rolls of contraband cigarettes.
"The success of Thunderbolt 10 highlighted the close and continued cooperation between the police forces of Hong Kong, the Mainland and Macau. It has also contributed to the strengthening of our forces and our capability to combat crimes, which in turn helps maintain public order and social stability," Mr Cheuk said.
"We will continue to maintain close liaison with other law enforcement agencies and spare no effort in combating local and cross-boundary triad-related activities through strategic planning and intelligence-led operations," he said.
Police Report No. 13
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Monday, November 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:15
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