2004-01-09 06:59 Police arrested 284 people in a joint anti-crime operation concluded early this morning (January 9). Following extensive investigations, Police officers attached to the Kowloon West Region, together with officers from the Immigration Department, Customs & Excise Department, Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority, Office of the Telecommunications Authority, and Labour Department mounted the joint operation codenamed "Windpipe" since 12 am yesterday (January 8). During the operation, 44 men and 240 women, aged between 16 and 60, were arrested for various offences including prostitution, selling of dutiable cigarettes, obscene and pirated video compact discs/digital video discs (VCD/DVD), illegal labour and vice-related activities. Of the arrested, 225 women are two-way permit holders. About 143 000 pieces of pirated or obscene VCD/DVD worth around $2.6 million, 7 600 sticks of dutiable cigarettes, and 22 digital television decoders were seized. A Police spokesman said that similar operations would be mounted on a regular basis to stem out triad related activities in a bid to curb their sources of income. |