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 From Hong Kong's Information Services Department
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February 15, 2007
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Crime
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Piracy syndicate shut down
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Customs & Excise Department

Customs officers have shut down a Kwun Tong syndicate involved in peddling pirated optical discs, arresting 14 people including two ring masterminds.

 

After a year of investigations, the officers raided 20 locations throughout the city yesterday and today.

 

They arrested 11 men and three women, aged 22 to 51. Among them, a 31-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were believed to be the ring masterminds.

 

They also seized about $3.92 million worth of goods,  including 120,000 pirated optical discs, a private car, a cross-boundary container truck, about $70,000 in cash and a Jockey Club cash voucher.

 

Customs believe the syndicate, with a triad background, is the most organised crime group engaged in pirated optical-disc activities in Hong Kong.

 

The syndicate had sourced pirated optical discs from the Mainland and smuggled them into Hong Kong using cross-boundary vehicles. The daily proceeds were estimated to be more than $50,000, and money-laundering activities were involved.