In Hong Kong, more than 7,500 properties, including gambling sites and residences, were raided. The South China Morning Post reported that 51,000 people were arrested in three regions. Specific crimes included prostitution, gambling, drug trafficking, weapons, counterfeit DVDs, and smuggled cigarettes.
According to the media, the code name Thunderbolt 15, which ended last week, is part of an annual multinational attempt to destroy a criminal organization. The template for this operation will be used in the future to promote police cooperation in cross-border policing. The operation, which was the longest joint effort of its kind last year, was extended for another two months this year, as regular police investigations were impossible due to more than two months of protests against the Chinese government.
The well-known transitional criminal gangs operating in Taiwan, Macao and Hong Kong are linked to many of those arrested, and are largely responsible for gambling, extortion, prostitution, as well as drug and weapons trafficking. Auchin Chau, director of organized crime and triad, told reporters, “The message we want to send is that the police have zero tolerance for any kind of illegal activity, including triad activity.”
News from mainland China reports that more than 11,000 people have been arrested in Guangdong province. Reports say nearly 4,000 people have been arrested in Macau. Some reports say more than 30,000 people described as “drug addicts” have been detained across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.