Hong Kong police smash suspected HK$30 million cross-border smuggling operation
A police source said that at least 10 people have been arrested, including the gang’s suspected ringleaders, over the smuggling of endangered red sandalwood and electronic goods
A triad-controlled cross-border syndicate that is believed to have pocketed more than HK$30 million over the past two years by smuggling endangered red sandalwood and electronic goods from Hong Kong onto the mainland was broken up following the arrest of 11 people on Thursday, according to police.
The 11 Hongkongers - nine men and two women - included the gang’s two suspected ringleaders, a man, 58, and a woman, 48, were arrested when officers raided their homes in the New Territories before dawn.
The woman’s daughter, 23, who runs a money exchange shop in Tai Po, was also apprehended in the operation that involved more than 100 police and customs officers.
Force insiders said the gang’s crime proceeds of more than HK$30 million were laundered through the Tai Po money exchanger and the woman’s bank accounts over the past two years.
Three of the suspects were picked up when officers intercepted two seven-seater cars and a lorry in Sai Sha Road, Ma On Shan at about 1am. Officers seized about 90 logs of red sandalwood with an estimated value of more than HK$5.4 million from the vehicles.