Police have arrested 21 people, aged 19 to 66, in Sham Shui Po. About 36 shops on Ap Liu Street were raided and more than 700 mobile phones of suspicious origins seized.

The operation, codenamed "Operation Backcatcher", was mounted yesterday.

Police raided shops and stalls on Ap Liu Street and checked about 2,000 mobile phones. They seized more than 700 of them that had suspicious origins.

Don't buy from illegal hawkers

Seventeen men and four women were picked up for various offences, including handling stolen goods and hawking without licence. All have been released on bail pending further investigation.

Police appealed to the public not to sell mobile phones to illegal hawkers or buy used mobile phones of suspicious origins.

People who handle stolen goods will be liable to 14 years' prison. People involve in illegal hawking will be subject to a maximum $5,000 fine and one month in jail.