The Unitary Police Service (SPU) said in a statement on Friday that during the Thunderbolt Operation 2022, jointly carried out in two phases, from May 20 to July 4 and from September 13-30 by the Customs Service, Judiciary Police (PJ) and Public Security Police (PSP), 52,056 people were investigated and 1,799 taken in for further questioning, while 370 criminal cases were recorded.
The statement noted that the long list includes 23 drug cases, four usury cases, six cases of aiding and abetting human smuggling, and 47 fraud cases, of which 12 involved illegal currency exchange cases, four money laundering cases and one case of controlling prostitutes. The statement added that among the cases, four involved criminal organisations.
The statement pointed out that 467 people were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), 226 of whom have meanwhile been sentenced or fined, while 35 suspects have been remanded in custody.
During the operation, the statement said, 668 non-residents were deported for engaging in illegal activities, such as overstaying or involvement in illegal currency exchange activities, adding that 30 of the arrestees were targets of an interception or detention order, three of whom were immediately sent to jail.
The statement said that thanks to the joint efforts of the police in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, the operation achieved its goal of preventing and clamping down on cross-border crime and deterring various illegal activities.
According to the statement, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local economy and people’s livelihoods, the Unitary Police Service will continue to pay close attention to criminal activities and strengthen liaison between Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong, in order to maintain public order and public security.
This undated pixelated photo provided by the Unitary Police Service (SPU) on Friday shows a man being escorted by policemen to a Public Security Police (PSP) vehicle.
