Over 1,000 arrested in anti-crime operation in S. China

Over 1,000 arrested in anti-crime operation in S. China

2011-08-04 23:37:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

HONG KONG (BNO NEWS) -- Hong Kong police arrested over 1,000 people and seized drugs and illicit goods worth about 11 million Hong Kong dollars ($1.4 million) during an anti-crime operation carried out in July, officials announced on Thursday.

Acting Superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau Ng Wai-hon told a press conference that a total of 1,081 people were arrested for various offenses, including drug offenses, illegal gambling, and possession and publishing of pornography. Among those arrested were 567 men and 514 women, while 347 were from the Chinese mainland, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Police conducted searches at nearly 2,500 locations, including massage establishments, night clubs and residential units, during the anti-crime joint operation by the Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao police between July 1 and July 31. They were able to seize about 19.5 kilograms of ketamine, 234 grams of cocaine, 227 grams of heroin, 156 grams of "ice" and other drugs, worth about 3.54 million HK dollars ($453,856) in total.

About 190,000 pornographic and pirated compact discs worth about 5.8 million HK dollars ($743,606) were also seized. In addition, the seizure also included 119 million HK dollars ($15.2 million) worth of soccer and horse race betting records plus some 100,000 rolls of contraband cigarettes and 12,000 liters of illegal fuel oil, Xinhua reported.

The operation, code named "Thunderbolt 11", was aimed at curbing the illegal activities of triad societies and organized crime syndicates, and neutralizing cross-border crimes.

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