The police recently announced the number of crimes in Hong Kong last year. Among them, there were 27,923 cases of deception, a year-on-year increase of 45.1%. During the arrest operation, a total of 633 people were arrested for money laundering and related crimes, involving more than 1,000 cases, and the amount of money laundered exceeded 7.8 billion yuan.
Most of the arrested persons were puppet account holders, and the oldest among them was a 78-year-old retired woman who lent her account to others to collect fraudulent money.
As for the case involving the largest amount of money, the Hong Kong and Australian police jointly detected the crime proceeds of 5.5 billion yuan laundered through the account of a shell company in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong police have arrested two men involved in the case and are looking for two fugitives.
From the 9th of last month to this month, the police carried out the "Junyu" operation with 15 people, and arrested 633 people on suspicion of money laundering and related crimes, involving more than 1,000 cases, and the amount of money laundered exceeded 7.8 billion yuan.
(Photo by Chen Haoran)
Chief Inspector Xie Zifeng of the Wealth Intelligence and Investigation Division (Wealth Investigation Team) said that the police carried out the "Junyu" operation for 38 consecutive days from the 9th of last month to the 15th of this month, mobilizing more than 3,700 agents and searching 593 premises, including residences. and commercial building units, arrested 633 people on suspicion of money laundering and related crimes, aged between 18 and 78, of which 573 were local residents and the remaining 60 were non-local residents.
The arrested persons were suspected of carrying out multiple transfers and deposits through different financial instruments, such as banks, securities accounts, and stored value facilities. Online shopping, job hunting, investment, telephone and online love scams, and individual cases involving drug or gambling-related crimes.
During the operation, the police froze more than 116 million yuan in assets and seized a large number of bank documents, ATM cards, mobile phones, computers and valuables.
Chief Inspector Xie Zifeng of the Wealth Intelligence and Investigation Division (Wealth Investigation Unit) (photo by Chan Ho-ran)
Non-Chinese group lures foreign helpers to provide accounts to launder 35 million black money
Among them, the police used multiple intelligence-led operations to target a money laundering group controlled by non-Chinese people. The criminals lured foreign domestic helpers to sell their accounts with 1,000 to 2,500 yuan. From May 2021 to October 2022, 35 million people were laundered. Proceeds of crime.
For this case, the police arrested 5 backbones and 13 puppet account holders, aged between 29 and 49, on the 9th of last month.
Among the more than 600 people arrested in the "Junyu" operation, most of them were people who lent puppet accounts for use by criminal groups. After asking about the situation, I collected money on behalf of others, only to find out afterwards that the money collected was fraudulent.
From the 9th of last month to this month, the police carried out the "Junyu" operation with 15 people, and arrested 633 people on suspicion of money laundering and related crimes, involving more than 1,000 cases, and the amount of money laundered exceeded 7.8 billion yuan.
(Photo by Chen Haoran)
Hong Kong and Australia cooperate to solve the 5.5 billion yuan money laundering case
As for the case involving the largest amount of money in the operation, the amount was as high as more than 5.5 billion yuan. The Police Wealth Investigation Division and the Australian Police carried out the "Shadow of Trees" arrest operation on the 2nd of this month. After investigation and information exchange, it was found that the money laundering group used Hong Kong people opened 13 corporate accounts of 10 shell companies in Hong Kong. From June 2020 to November 2022, 5.5 billion yuan of criminal proceeds suspected to be from drug trafficking or gambling-related cases were laundered, which may also involve tax evasion The crime involved money from Australia, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
During the operation, the Hong Kong police arrested two men, aged 29 and 38, who were reported as drivers and unemployed respectively. They are also looking for two fugitives.
The police also carried out a law enforcement operation called "Dark Alley" to solicit puppet accounts online. On the 16th and 17th of last month, they actively patrolled the Internet and dispatched police officers in disguise to deal with online posts about soliciting puppet accounts and criminal syndicate members. Contact and collect evidence, and arrest 5 local men and women between the ages of 23 and 51 involved in the case when the time is right.
From the 9th of last month to this month, 15 people were involved in the "Junyu" operation, and 633 people were arrested on suspicion of money laundering and related crimes, involving more than a thousand cases, and the amount of money laundering exceeded 7.8 billion yuan. This afternoon (17th), the police explained case.
(Photo by Chen Haoran)
Police describe solicitation of rental accounts as "explicit"
Chen Xin, Senior Superintendent of the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, said that 1,152 people were arrested for money laundering crimes in the past year, 180 more than in 2021. This trend reflects that fraud and related money laundering activities are becoming more and more serious, and the fight against money laundering and confiscation Proceeds from crime is one of the priorities of the police. The police will discuss with the Department of Justice to expedite prosecution and apply for additional sentences in appropriate cases.
He described advertisements on online platforms recruiting others to rent or sell accounts as "blatant", and would explain in detail what type of account is required, the lease period and rent, etc.
As some cases involve foreign helpers renting out or selling accounts for "quick money", the police have also printed leaflets in different languages, hoping that foreign helpers can understand money laundering laws and the seriousness of selling accounts.
It is understood that cases involving foreign domestic helpers involve syndicated crimes. Foreign domestic helpers seldom rent out accounts through online advertisements, and more obtain information about available accounts through fellow villagers, while young people in Hong Kong tend to contact them through social platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. See related advertisements; criminal syndicates will offer account holders different amounts of money for different types of accounts, for example, corporate accounts or large bank accounts are more expensive, while virtual bank accounts are cheaper.
Chen Xin, Senior Superintendent of the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Division (photo by Chen Haoran)
In order to strengthen anti-money laundering publicity and education, the police held the "Anti-Money Laundering Month" from the 9th of last month to today, using "Don't rent, don't borrow, don't sell" as the key publicity and education slogan to remind the public not to rent out or lend out Or sell bank, securities or stored value facility accounts to others to handle money or assets of unknown origin.
Luo Yunyi, Senior Inspector of the Wealth Intelligence and Investigation Division (Headquarters), said that in addition to inviting actors from TV dramas to assist in the filming of promotional videos, the police also published promotional advertisements on police social platforms, websites that young people would browse, shopping platforms commonly used by citizens, and transportation applications. , and provide lectures for foreign consulates, banks and other institutions, and distribute leaflets and small gifts on the streets to deepen the public's awareness of money laundering.
Senior Inspector Lo Wan-yee of the Financial Intelligence and Investigation Division (Headquarters) (Photo by Chan Ho-yin)
Luo Yunyi reminded that money laundering is a serious crime. According to the Drug Trafficking (Recovery of Proceeds) Ordinance and the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance, anyone who knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that any property, including money, is a drug or Prosecuting the proceeds of the crime, but still dealing with the relevant property, will commit the crime of money laundering. Once convicted, the maximum penalty is 14 years in prison and a fine of 5 million yuan. The public is urged not to try their best.
98 people were arrested for money laundering by providing account information Luoli promotes anti-fraud message reminding "Bank account is for someone!"