Police have arrested almost 1,000 people and seized $17 million worth of illicit goods in a tripartite anti-crime operation between Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau authorities.

About 3,700 locations, including discos, game centres, massage establishments and residential units were searched during the month-long operation ending today. Thirty-nine vice establishments and 17 gambling dens were shut down, while 999 people were arrested for triad- and vice-related offences, gambling and drug offences, and trade- and commodities-related offences. About 290 were Mainlanders.

Police seized more than 14kg of ketamine, 1.37kg of cocaine and different types of psychotropic drugs worth $3 million.

About 80,000 pornographic and pirated discs worth $2.5 million were seized, along with $11 million worth of soccer and horseracing betting records, 7,200 contraband cigarettes and 150 counterfeit items.