Nine arrested over recruiting mainlanders for money laundering

Police arrested nine individuals after raiding two operation centers for money laundering in Kwai Chung and Mong Kok.

Investigation revealed that the criminal syndicate recruited mainlanders with a reward of up to HK$1,000 to open bank accounts in Hong Kong for money laundering.

The arrestees, aged between 24 and 64, included those who paid for the criminal act. Three of them are locals, while the others are from the mainland. They will be charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Officers said the members of the syndicate will make use of the personal info of the recruited mainlanders to open bank accounts online, and will leverage the accounts for money laundering.

In the raids conducted on Saturday (Aug 9), police seized a total of three computers, 44 smartphones, a router and HK$100,000 in cash. Officers also froze at least 30 newly opened accounts.

It was learned that the operation centers were launched in August.