Guangdong police?on Wednesday?revealed that "Operation
Winter Days" had smashed a total of six cross-border gangs and 17
triads, and detained four suspects from Taiwan and six from Hong
Kong who had been on Hong Kong police's most wanted lists for
years.
The special month-long operation in November targeted
cross-border crimes, in particular drug trafficking. Kidnapping,
cross-border prostitution, document forging and computer network
crimes were also a focus of the campaign.
Before the operation was launched, senior police officers from
Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao held several joint work conferences
to exchange information and suspect lists, according to Xiao
Shengxian, a police officer from Guangdong Provincial Bureau of
Public Security yesterday.
Police from the three regions also set up a 24-hour hotline to
receive information, he said.
The operation took place in eight cities in the Pearl River
Delta, which borders Hong Kong and Macao
special administrative regions. It dealt a heavy blow to local
gangs and organized crime rings that were active in the three
areas, Xiao said.
"It has also helped ensure a good and sound social order for
economic construction," he said.
Shenzhen police smashed four major cross-border drug production
and trafficking rings. Many suspects were detained, including a
Hong Kong permanent resident surnamed Lau who is suspected to be
the leader of a drug gang.
A total of 263 kilograms of cocaine, 43 kilograms of ice or
methamphetamine plus two pistols and many raw materials, were
seized from the groups last month.
An international drug trafficking channel?that was formerly
active in the southern Chinese region was believed to have been
busted, Xiao said.
"The crackdown on the four drug-related cases further shows the
successful cooperation among police from Guangdong, Hong Kong and
Macao and their firm determination in fighting cross-border crimes
in recent years," Xiao said.
Guangzhou police also successfully busted a weapon sales gang,
detaining 11 suspects and seizing 15 pistols during the campaign. A
major illegal casino was also closed down in the city's Huadu
District.
(China Daily December 8, 2005)