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Police Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) arrested 39 persons mainly for money laundering, operating illegal gambling establishments and illegal bookmaking during an anti-triad operation.
The operation codenamed ¡§Blackknight¡¨ aimed to interdict triads¡¦ sources of income, turned overt yesterday (October 11) and today (October 12). Officers of OCTB, together with Narcotics Bureau, Commercial Crime Bureau and Crime New Territories North have raided various locations and arrested a total of 28 men and 11 women, aged between 25 and 77.
During the operation, police have frozen suspected triad related income amounting to 10 million, and seized $350,000 in cash and a number of computers.
Police believed that the operation had smashed the two triad factions active in the New Territories. The two triad factions were believed to have involved in various crimes including human smuggling, illegal bookmaking, selling of contraband cigarettes and loan sharking. They also laundered the crime proceeds through different bank accounts and shell companies.
All arrestees are still being detained for further enquiries. The operation is still going on. Police remind the public not to provide their personal bank accounts to others for unlawful purposes.
Police Report No. 17
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:17
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