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Police arrested a total of 304 people in West Kowloon Region during a 24-hour anti-crime operation conducted from 2 am yesterday (June 5) to 2 am today.

Jointly mounted with the Customs and Excise Department, the Immigration Department, the Labour Department and the Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, the operation targeted triad revenue generating activities, including vice activities, the selling of obscene and pirated VCDs and DVDs, the illicit sale of contraband cigarettes and unlawful employment of two-way permit holders.

During the operation, Police raided 110 premises in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, Yau Tsim and Mong Kok and arrested 40 men and 264 women for various offences.

The arrested persons include 270 Mainlanders, three Pakistanis, two Thais and two Vietnamese.

More than 102,000 VCDs and DVDs worth about $2 million were seized. Some 27,600 sticks of contraband cigarettes valued at about $44,000 and 144 counterfeit watches worth $57,600 were also seized.

Police also found 1.7 kg of Ketamine, 1,200 tablets of ecstasy and 80 grams of cannabis in the operation, with an estimated value of $700,000.

A Police spokesman reiterated that Police are determined to crack down on triad activities and will conduct similar operations in the future.

Police Report No. 1

Issued by PPRB

End/ 0700 hours, Friday, June 6, 2003 (KO)

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