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Police arrested 1,959 people and seized illicit goods worth more than $42 million in a tripartite anti-crime joint operation mounted by the Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau Police authorities since August 21 this year.
The intelligence-led enforcement operation codenamed "Thunderbolt 09" was aimed at illegal activities of triad societies and organised crime syndicates, neutralising cross-border crimes, and interdicting the criminals' source of income.
The Acting Chief Superintendent of Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, Mr Ma Wang-chow, said at a press conference today (December 3) that another important objective of the operation was to raise public awareness about crime prevention before the Hong Kong 2009 East Asian Games, the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the People's Republic of China and the 10th anniversary of the Macau SAR.
During the operation, about 7,000 locations including discos, amusement game centres, massage establishments and residential units were searched.
Police have smashed 80 vice establishments and 30 illegal gambling dens and arrested 1,959 people for various offences including triad related offences, vice related offences, gambling and drugs offences.
The arrested persons included 1,130 males and 829 females. Among them, 572 were Mainlanders.
More than 235,000 pornographic and pirated compact discs worth about $7 million were also seized. The operation was believed to have interdicted the source of income of organised crime syndicates. About $22 million worth of soccer and horseracing betting records were also seized.
ˇ§Looking forward, Hong Kong Police will continue to maintain close co-operation with the enforcement agencies in the Mainland and Macau. We will regularly exchange criminal intelligence and conduct joint operations whenever necessary,ˇ¨ Mr Ma said.
He also pledged that the three sides would continue their concerted effort in cracking down illegal activities of triad societies and organised crime syndicates, and to interdict their source of income with an aim to maintain the stability and law and order in the three regions.
Police Report No. 4
Issued by PPRB
Ends/Thursday, December 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:50
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