*********************************************************
Police today (March 12) arrested 17 men and a woman in an operation codenamed "Hurdler" to combat child pornography.
Acting on intelligence and extensive analysis, officers of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) raided various locations across the territory today together with officers from the Regional Crime Units of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon East, Kowloon West, New Territories South and New Territories North.
During the operation, 17 men and a woman aged between 20 and 49 were arrested for possession of child pornography. In the operation, Police seized 20 personal computers, five mobile phones and six external hard disks, in which over 2,300 child pornography photos and 1,300 movies and video clips were found.
Initial investigations revealed that the arrestees downloaded the child pornographic materials from the internet.
The arrested persons were released on bail pending further investigation.
"Possessing child pornography is an offence which carries a maximum penalty of five yearsˇ¦ imprisonment and a fine of $1 million on conviction," a Police spokesperson stressed. Police will continue to maintain close liaison with overseas law enforcement agencies to deter child pornography activities.
Ends/Thursday, March 12, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:19
NNNN
