Concerted efforts by narcotics law enforcement agencies of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and their United States counterparts pay dividends in the battle against international drug trafficking at an asset-sharing cheque presentation ceremony held today (July 17).
On behalf of the HKSAR Government, the Secretary for Security, Mrs Regina Ip, received a cheque for US$2,898,755 (HK$22,610,289) from the United States Consul General, Mr James Keith.
The cheque marked the sharing of confiscated assets following cooperation between the U.S. and the HKSAR Governments in cracking the Claude Duboc case.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, Mrs Ip said, "This is one tenth of the US$29 million in cash surrendered to the U.S. Government by Claude Duboc in 1994, and this notorious drug trafficker was estimated to have amassed drug-related assets worth about US$100 million."
"These figures starkly illustrate the magnitude of illicit drug trade, and the paramount importance of international cooperation in combatting drug trafficking and organized crime," she added.
Noting that this was the fourth time HK and U.S. had shared confiscated proceeds of drug trafficking since 1998, Mrs Ip said Hong Kong and U.S. had enjoyed excellent law enforcement cooperation in a wide range of areas for many years.
"As we all know, criminal activity and the proceeds of crime do not stop at national borders. That is why it is vitally important for different jurisdictions to join hands in fighting transnational crime and confiscating the proceeds of those criminal activities, " Mrs Ip said.
"One of the lessons we learned from the terrible events of September 11 is that we cannot take our safety and security for granted. And that is why we are more alert than ever to the dangers of money laundering and terrorist financing, and the need for cross-boundary cooperation."
"I am sure the close collaboration between Hong Kong and US law enforcement agencies will continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead," she added.
Mrs Ip noted more sharing of the drug proceeds would be made as and when more of Claude Duboc's criminal assets were uncovered and confiscated. This has been assured by the U.S. Department of Justice when the Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Clarie Lo, called on them in Washington D.C. last month.
Meanwhile, the United States Consul General, Mr James Keith, said at the same ceremony, "Today's ceremony represents nine years of joint investigation by U.S. and Hong Kong law enforcement authorities to break a major marijuana money laundering ring."
"Hong Kong Customs greatly contributed to the overall effort by carefully investigating bank accounts, seizing assets, and sharing information with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration."
"This presentation is the latest in a series of joint law enforcement efforts, including the extradition two weeks ago of Chui-ping Cheng, aka 'Sister Ping,' an accused human smuggler and financier who had fought a three-year extradition battle to elude U.S. prosecution," Mr. Keith said.
"This cooperation works both ways as former Hong Kong solicitor and fraud suspect Helen Chung Yee-fong was extradited to Hong Kong from the U.S. on July 11 following a two-year extradition battle. Also this month, Hong Kong Customs officers seized an estimated HK$8.65 million in counterfeit leather goods as the result of a joint operation with U.S. Customs," he added.
On the counter-terrorism front, Mr. Keith said, "The U.S. appreciates our close cooperation with Hong Kong law enforcement authorities on counter-terrorism issues as well. Hong Kong has an important role to play given its status as a major financial and transportation hub."
"As President of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and under the leadership of Commissioner for Narcotics, Mrs Clarie Lo, Hong Kong helped lead the effort to identify and break up terrorist financial networks. It has directed financial institutions to search their records for terrorist funds.
"Last year, LegCo passed an important anti-terrorism legislation and signed onto the Container Security Initiatives, a U.S. effort to prevent terrorists from exploiting global maritime trade to transport weapons of mass destruction," Mr Keith added.
In early 1994, information from the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration revealed that Claude Duboc and John Knock were the masterminds of a significant marijuana and hashish smuggling syndicate operating in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
In March 1994, Claude Doboc was arrested in Hong Kong and later extradited to the U.S. for trial. HK Customs and Excise Department launched a financial investigation into the syndicate activities in the territory.
End/Thursday, July 17, 2003
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