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The Narcotics Bureau of Hong Kong Police (HKP) joined hands with Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of Public Security, China and National Narcotics Board, Republic of Indonesia to conduct a joint operation in Indonesia and Hong Kong on January 5, 2015 against a cross-boundary drug trafficking syndicate active within Asian countries following almost three years of joint investigation.
During the operation in Jakarta, Indonesia, a total of 862 kg of ˇ§Iceˇ¨ were seized. The drug seizure, with an estimated value of about HK$806 million in the Indonesian market, is the second largest seizure in Indonesia. A total of nine men, aged from 21 to 48, including four Hong Kong residents, four Indonesians and one Malaysian, were arrested. One of the arrested Hong Kong residents was believed to be the mastermind of the syndicate.
HKP arrested four local residents, including two men and two women, aged between 27 and 52, for money laundering in connection with the syndicate during an operation in the territory on January 5. Searches at their residences and safe deposit boxes resulted in the seizure of cash valued at HK$1.63 million and valuables amounting to HK$5.23 million. In addition, HK$11 million in suspicious bank accounts were also frozen.
The joint investigation is still underway to ascertain the sources of the drugs, smuggling routes and the syndicateˇ¦s activities.
HKP will continue to maintain close cooperation with overseas law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking activities.
Ends/Thursday, January 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:40
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