Police arrested 1,821 people and seized dangerous drugs and illicit goods worth about HK$33 million during the second phase of the tripartite anti-crime joint operation codenamed “THUNDERBOLT 17” mounted by the Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau Police authorities between August 1 and 31 this year.The police authorities of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau have spared no effort to combat triad activities and organised crimes, especially cross-boundary syndicates. Operation “THUNDERBOLT 17” is an intelligence-led enforcement operation aimed at curbing the illegal activities of triad societies and organised crime syndicates, neutralising cross-boundary crimes, and interdicting the criminals' source of income. During the second phase of operation “THUNDERBOLT 17”, the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau mounted the operation “KEYSCROLLER” targeting loan shark syndicates and arrested 42 people. The Crime Headquarters of New Territories North also made 299 arrests under the anti-triad and undercover operation codenamed “SUPERTALE”. The Crime Headquarters of Hong Kong Island arrested 280 people during an operation targeting illegal gambling activities operated by triad syndicates. The above operations have sucessfully combated the triad activities in Hong Kong and interdicted the main sources of income of the triad syndicates concerned.During the second phase of the operation “THUNDERBOLT 17”, Police conducted searches and raids on over 2,100 locations including discos, amusement game centres, massage establishments, nightclubs and residential units. Among the 1,821 people arrested, 471 of them were mainlanders and 90 of them were non-ethnic Chinese. The arrested people, aged between 10 and 94, included 922 men and 899 women. They were arrested for various offences, including triad-related offences, drug offences, managing vice establishments, breach of conditions of stay, illegal gambling, criminal damage, wounding and possession of arms or ammunition without licence.During the second phase of the operation, police seized dangerous drugs and psychotropic drugs worth about HK$30 million, including cannabis, ketamine, cocaine, “ice”, heroin and midazolam. A total of over 21,000 obscene and pirated DVDs valued at about HK$0.5 million in total were also seized. Other seizures included a large batch of weapons and imitation firearms, as well as 295,000 rolls of contraband cigarettes.The two phases of the operation “THUNDERBOLT 17” this year have concluded with a total of 5,439 arrests, aged between 10 and 94, including 1,606 Mainlanders and 242 non-ethnic Chinese. Police would continue to maintain close liaison and to exchange intelligence with the Mainland and Macau police authorities with a view to interdicting organised crimes and cross-boundary triad activities to uphold the public confidence in law and order.

Ends/Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Issued at HKT 18:55

NNNN