Five persons arrested in anti-vice operation

Police today (June 11) arrested one man and four women in various locations across the territory in an anti-vice operation codenamed "Bayshelter".

Acting on intelligence gathered, the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) conducted an operation against a number of local vice syndicates suspected of luring local girls to provide sex services in overseas countries since the end of 2006.

Following extensive investigations, Police identified six local vice syndicates believed to have close connection with a number of overseas vice syndicates. The local syndicates were suspected of arranging local girls for prostitution in various countries including Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada. Investigation revealed that the Hong Kong syndicates had arranged accommodation and work places for the women and earned profits by charging handling fees to their overseas counterparts.

Australian Police, acting on intelligence provided by the OCTB, arrested a Hong Kong couple in Melbourne in an operation last week. The duo was suspected of luring and threatening Hong Kong girls to provide sex service in Australia. They have been charged by Australian Police with slavery offences and bought before the court.

Meanwhile, the OCTB operation turned overt today, resulting in the arrest of a man and four women aged between 35 and 45 in various locations across Hong Kong. They were arrested in connection with trafficking in persons from Hong Kong for sexual purpose. A number of exhibits including air tickets, documents and photo albums were also seized during the operation.

All arrestees will be detained overnight for enquiries. Investigations by OCTB are still ongoing.


Police Report No. 1
Issued by PPRB

End/ Monday, June 11, 2007