Crackdown on prostitution ring that lures Japanese actresses to HK sees 65 arrested

Police have arrested 65 people in a crackdown on a Hong Kong prostitution ring that lured Japanese women, including Japanese AV (adult video) actresses, to the city to provide sexual services.

In a citywide raid over the last three days, officers arrested 60 women and five men, aged between 17 to 64, including 11 alleged ringleaders of the gang. They were arrested for offenses including control over persons for the purpose of unlawful sexual intercourse or prostitution, living on earnings of prostitution of others, and money laundering.

Police said they had earlier discovered a cross-border prostitution ring operated by locals, which advertises on social media platforms promoting arrangements for Japanese sex workers and AV actresses to engage in prostitution in Hong Kong hotels. The fees for each sexual service range from thousands of dollars to HK$150,000 dollars.

It was understood that after the sex workers received payment, the prostitution ring would take about half of the amount.

The police noted that the ring’s division of labor was meticulous, with specific responsibilities for customer service, collecting money from sex workers, and handling hotel reservations.

Meanwhile, the police found that these sex workers not only engaged in prostitution in Hong Kong but also in Singapore and Macau, and had since alerted overseas authorities to undertake joint enforcement actions.

The enforcement actions saw three key figures of the ring arrested on charges of money laundering, involving suspected proceeds of HK$19 million.

Law enforcement prevented the transfer of HK$18 million in criminal proceeds, and also seized four residential properties.

In Singapore, local authorities arrested a member of the prostitution ring and three Japanese sex workers. An investigation by the Japanese police is still ongoing.