Police said on Sunday that they smashed a crime syndicate following an anti-triad operation and arrested 147 people, including the suspected mastermind and key members.

They're accused of using stooge accounts to launder HK$600 million between January last year and this month.

Acting Senior Superintendent Au Yeung Tak from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau said that the crime proceeds were obtained from drug trafficking and manufacturing, as well as operating drug and gambling dens.

"In the operation, police seized various items with a total value of about HK$5 million. These include approximately HK$3.65 million in cash, along with various types of jewellery, luxury watches, vehicles, bank cards, mobile phones, weapons, gambling equipment and drugs with a total value of about HK$1.3 million," he said.

Officers raided a total of 14 premises.

Acting Superintendent Ho Yan-kit said the syndicate enlisted people to sell their accounts for hundreds to thousands of dollars.

He also said the police operation fully dismantled the money laundering chain.


Edited by Edmond Fong