The police smashed the "blood-sucking big earloose" group that operated an illegal loan business with an annual interest rate of 80% to 150%. This illegal group has been operating in Hong Kong for about 4 years. For the purpose of money laundering, if the "debt boy" refuses, the action will be "escalated", including sending threatening messages with the intention of harming the "debt boy"'s family and forcing the other party to submit. In the end, the group used the account to launder 140 million yuan in criminal proceeds.
The police arrested 15 people for two consecutive days since yesterday (21st), including the 60-year-old male mastermind and 5 key members, and seized 1.6 million yuan in suspected criminal proceeds.
Chief Inspector Jiang Jiajun of Team 1 of the New Territories North Regional Crime Unit and Li Jiarong, Senior Inspector of the New Territories North Regional Crime Unit 1A Team (from left to right) explained the case today.
(Photo by Lin Zhenhua)
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The 11 men and 4 women involved in the case are aged between 22 and 64. They are the 61-year-old mastermind surnamed Xiao Nan, 5 key members, and 9 puppet account holders. Some of them have gang backgrounds, and some of the puppet account holders are The group's action team is also responsible for debt collection. They are suspected of "lending at excessively high interest rates", "running the business of a money lender without a license", and "handling property known or believed to represent proceeds from indictable crimes" (commonly known as "money laundering"). "), "criminal damage" and "criminal intimidation" were arrested. Syndicate members were involved in at least 4 cases of illegal debt collection. All arrested persons are being detained for investigation.
Chief Inspector Jiang Jiajun, Chief Inspector of the Serious Crime Unit 1, New Territories North Region, explained the case today, saying that the group operated from January 2018 to October this year, charging victims an annual interest rate ranging from 80 to 150%, far exceeding the legal limit of 60% The police analyzed a large number of bank documents and believed that the group used at least 40 bank accounts from January 2018 to September this year to launder 140 million yuan in criminal proceeds.
The police carried out an anti-usury arrest operation code-named "Crystal" in multiple districts in Hong Kong yesterday and today, and seized a large amount of evidence in the residences of the mastermind and key members, including computers, notebooks, multiple mobile phones, multiple At the same time, they seized suspected criminal proceeds worth 1.6 million yuan, including 200,000 Hong Kong dollars and foreign currency cash, multiple expensive watches, multiple expensive handbags, and a small amount of jewelry and goldware. Illegal debt collection usury group, while related investigations are still continuing, it is not ruled out that more people will be arrested.
If the "debt boys" are unable to repay their debts, the group involved will ask them to hand over their bank accounts to repay the debts, so as to launder the proceeds of crime.
(Photo by Lin Zhenhua)
Jiang reminded the public to borrow money from relatives, friends or reputable financial institutions, and not to lend to other people. Otherwise, they may be charged with "money laundering" and can be fined up to 5 million yuan and imprisoned for 14 years.
Li Jiarong, Senior Inspector of Team 1A of the New Territories North Regional Crime Unit, also pointed out that the police began to conduct in-depth investigation and analysis in March this year. It is believed that the victims who were in urgent need of cash contacted the group involved through friends or intermediaries, and did not calculate the annual interest rate when borrowing. After calming down, I found out that the interest was high. In one case, the victim borrowed 300,000 yuan, repaying 35,000 yuan per installment, and repaid 16 installments, that is, 560,000 yuan. The group requires them to hand over their bank accounts to repay the debt. If the other party refuses, they will use unscrupulous means, such as sending out threatening messages, mentioning harming their families and children, and even sending action teams to pour red oil and stuff holes in the door. The "debt boy" was frightened and compromised to hand over his account to pay off the debt.
