Police Arrest More Than 1,000 Organized Crime Suspects in Hong Kong

HONG KONG -- Police arrested more than 1,000 people and seized millions of dollars worth of illicit goods during a massive anti-crime joint operation by Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese police, authorities said Thursday.

Nearly 2,500 locations, including night clubs and massage parlors, were raided during the operation, which took place between July 1 and July 31, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The operation, codenamed "Thunderbolt 11," was aimed at curbing organized crime activities in the Special Administrative Region and smashing crime links between Hong Kong, Macau and the Chinese mainland, Acting Superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau Ng Wai-hon told a news conference.

Of the 1,081 people arrested, 347 were from mainland China.

Police also seized more than $1.4 million in illicit goods, including 45 pounds of heroin, 190,000 pornographic and pirated compact discs, and large sums of cash.

"The success of Thunderbolt 11 has shown the determination and capability of the police forces of Hong Kong, the Mainland and Macao in combating crimes," Ng said.

"We will continue maintaining close cooperation with the mainland and Macao police forces and adopting an intelligence-led approach to combat organized crime and triad activities ... so as to maintain Hong Kong as one of the safest and most stable societies," he said.