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Police yesterday (May 11) arrested a total of 16 persons in an anti-soccer bookmaking operation codenamed "Crowbeak".

After three-month in-depth investigations, officers of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) and the Crime Headquarters of Hong Kong Island started a series of raids all over the territory at about 9.45 pm.

A total of 21 locations were raided. Officers arrested 11 men and five women, aged 30 to 40, believed to be members of a triad group, in 10 of the locations.

Soccer betting slips with a face value of $7.2 million, around $100,000 cash and nine sets of computer were also seized.

The arrested persons are still being detained for enquiries.

A Police spokesman said that the operation was part of the Police operations in combating organised and serious crimes.

"We will continue to spare no efforts in eliminating triad-related and soccer-bookmaking activities," he added.

Police Report No. 2

Issued by PPRB

End/0110 hours, Monday, May 12, 2003 (CA)

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