INTERPOL and Hong Kong Police Host Annual Cybercrime Meeting to Tackle Global Threats

HKPF and INTERPOL co-organise INTERPOL's Cybercrime Expert Group In-Person Annual Meeting

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and INTERPOL are co-organising the INTERPOL's Cybercrime Expert Group (CyberEX) In-Person Annual Meeting today and tomorrow (February 2 and 3), under the theme "Disrupting the Industrialisation of Cybercrime". The event has attracted over 120 participants, including law enforcement officers and experts from the industry and international organisations from more than 30 countries/regions. The meeting, being held in Hong Kong for the first time, highlighted the Force's close co-operation with law enforcement agencies worldwide in international policing, as well as its influence in the global stage of combating cybercrime.

In his opening remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said that there is no challenge more borderless, or more urgent, than cybercrime today. To address the threat, the Force is committed to developing next-generation technologies, fostering public-private partnerships, and creating a public safety ecosystem through various collaboration platforms, advanced technology projects, and industrial participation.

He cited as an example that the Force, having noted emerging trends in virtual asset-related crimes, engaged with the Web3 industry last year to establish the Virtual Asset Intelligence Taskforce as a public-private co-operation platform. This brings together regulators and licensed service providers to jointly address challenges posed by Web3 technology, and promote innovation and security in digital asset development. The Force has also developed an automated system, CryptoTrace, to visualise virtual asset investigations and fully support investigators within the Force.

Mr Chow emphasised that cybercrime respects no borders, and effective combat requires strengthened cross-border co-operation, cross-sector partnerships, and continuous capacity building. Today's meeting serves as a platform bringing together international law enforcement agencies, academia, and the industry to transform collective insight into collective impact against cybercrime through experience sharing, intelligence exchange, and co-ordinated action.

He added that the 94th INTERPOL General Assembly will be held in Hong Kong this year. The HKPF will continue to maintain close liaison with INTERPOL to further strengthen international policing co-operation, deepen partnerships, and combat cross-border cybercrime syndicates.

The INTERPOL Cybercrime Director, Mr Neal Jetton, thanked the HKPF for jointly hosting the meeting and promoting cross-border collaboration. He noted that the meeting demonstrated Hong Kong's proactive role as a key hub for international policing co-operation, and expressed hope that the meeting would achieve practical solutions and collective action to effectively combat and dismantle cybercrime.

The Chief Superintendent of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the HKPF, Mr Lam Cheuk-ho, chaired the meeting as the Chairman of CyberEx. He emphasised the importance of international co-operation, professional training, and cross-sector collaboration in response to the trend of cybercrime industrialisation.

The meeting provides a platform for law enforcement experts, technology companies, and relevant stakeholders from around the world to engage in in-depth discussions on combating the cybercrime industry supply chain, covering multiple topics including cybercrime ecosystems, online extortion, artificial intelligence (AI), and virtual asset tracing. The participants shared and exchanged views on cross-border intelligence exchange, co-ordinated operations, and capacity building. The meeting also featured multiple exhibition booths showcasing the latest AI technologies and products, allowing participants to explore the latest developments in various technologies and innovative technology applications.

The HKPF will continue to maintain close co-operation with local and overseas partners, enhancing the overall effectiveness of combating cross-border cybercrime through intelligence exchange, capacity building, and co-ordinated operations, safeguarding the security and confidence of the public and enterprises in the digital era.

HKPF and INTERPOL co-organise INTERPOL's Cybercrime Expert Group In-Person Annual Meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr. Lam Cheuk Ho, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr. Neal Jetton, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Mr. Chow Yat Ming, Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

HKPF and INTERPOL co-organise INTERPOL's Cybercrime Expert Group In-Person Annual Meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Hong Kong International Airport and Yau Ma Tei respectively on April 1 and yesterday (April 2), and seized a total of about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine and about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine with a total estimated market value of about $3.4 million. Two persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

In the first case, a 43-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand on April 1. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 3.1 kilograms of suspected ketamine concealed inside food packaging in his baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

In the second case, during an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Yau Ma Tei on April 2, Customs officers intercepted a 41-year-old man and later escorted him to a hotel room nearby for a search and seized about 1.7 kilograms of suspected cocaine, about 1.7 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, a drug inhaling apparatus and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively and will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 4).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $3.4 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases