Customs has shut down a Mong Kok piracy syndicate with triad operators, arresting six men and 12 women and seizing $2 million worth of disk replicators and pirated optical disks.

The syndicate is believed to have been active in the sale of pirated optical disks in Mong Kok. Financial investigations showed it had made use of banking and betting accounts for laundering its crime proceeds.

Customs is considering applying for a restraint order under the Organised & Serious Crimes Ordinance to freeze the syndicate's proceeds. Initial estimates put the value of syndicate members' assets at about $1.2 million. Investigations will trace their assets.

If a restraint order is granted, this will be the third time crime proceeds have been restrained under the ordinance in relation to a copyright piracy case.

Customs launched the operation yesterday afternoon, raiding 10 locations in Kowloon Bay, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Cheung Sha Wan, Kwai Chung and Yuen Long. They included four industrial and commercial premises, three shops and three residential units.

As a result, one disk replicating workshop, two storage centres and three retail outlets were neutralised. A total of 16 disk-replicator sets, each installed with a CD-ROM and eight disk writers, and 100,000 pirated optical disks, worth about $2 million, were seized.

Six men and 12 women, aged 18 to 46, were arrested. Of them, 14 were Mainlanders who the syndicate had employed to perform non-core functions like disk replication, packaging and delivery.

Ring leader believed to have been arrested

Customs believe they arrested core members of the syndicate, including a ring leader, in yesterday's operation. The core members, believed to have triad backgrounds, were locals.

All the arrested will be charged under the Copyright Ordinance, while the 36-year-old ring leader will also be charged under the Organised & Serious Crimes Ordinance. They will appear in Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts for mention tomorrow.