Hong Kong Police Conducts Cross-Border Anti-Scam Operation with Nine Countries and Regions under "FRONTIER+"

Hong Kong Police conducts cross-border anti-scam operation with nine countries and regions under "FRONTIER+"

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), in collaboration with the Police forces from nine countries and regions, including Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Macao Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand, conducted a joint operation through the Cross-Border Anti-Scam Collaboration Platform “FRONTIER+” from March 10 to May 7. The operation aimed to combat the increasingly rampant cross-border fraud and money laundering activities, achieving significant results.

During the nearly two-month long operation, over 3 200 law enforcement officers from the 10 countries and regions were deployed, successfully identifying and dismantling multiple cross-border scam syndicates. In total, 3 018 individuals (aged between 13 and 85) were arrested, involving over 138 000 scam cases, including online shopping scams, employment scams, investment scams, and telephone deceptions (such as government official impersonation scams and “guess who” scams), with a total loss amounting to US$752 million. A total of 101 989 bank accounts were frozen, effectively disrupting criminal cash flows and intercepting approximately US$161 million in fraudulent funds. Enforcement details of the countries and regions are set out in the Annex.

Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The HKPF arrested 870 individuals, aged between 13 and 83, across 742 cases mainly involving online shopping fraud, telephone deception, investment fraud and employment fraud. The Force also successfully intercepted about HK$539 million in criminal proceeds.

The case with the largest loss amount in the joint operation involved a messaging application account takeover scam that occurred in April. A Singaporean victim company was defrauded of US$36 million, with the funds subsequently remitted to multiple bank accounts located locally and in Hong Kong. Approximately half of the defrauded amount was converted into stablecoins and dispersed across multiple cryptocurrency wallets. Following joint investigations and fund-tracing by the Police forces of the two places, a total of US$20 million was successfully intercepted.

Investigation revealed a rise in the use of virtual asset platforms by fraud syndicates for money laundering. It is therefore imperative for every country and region to continue to enhance the capabilities in combating virtual asset-related crimes through intelligence sharing and collaborative frameworks.

By strengthening real-time intelligence analysis and sharing, co-ordinating actions and conducting cross-border joint operations from time to time, members of the Cross-border Anti-Scam Collaboration Platform “FRONTIER+” stand united against scams, cyber-related crimes, and money laundering. The platform will expand its network by inviting more countries and regions to join in order to enhance enforcement efficiency.

Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant when conducting financial transactions, especially those involving virtual assets or unfamiliar transfer requests. If in doubt, the public is advised to verify suspicious information or websites using “Scameter” on CyberDefender’s website (cyberdefender.hk/en-us/scameter/), or the mobile app “Scameter+”; or to call the 24-hour “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222” for enquiries.

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), in collaboration with the Police forces from nine countries and regions, conducted a joint operation through the Cross-Border Anti-Scam Collaboration Platform “FRONTIER+” from March 10 to May 7. Photo shows exhibits seized by personnel of the HKPF in the joint operation. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), in collaboration with the Police forces from nine countries and regions, conducted a joint operation through the Cross-Border Anti-Scam Collaboration Platform “FRONTIER+” from March 10 to May 7. Photo shows personnel of the HKPF arresting suspects in the joint operation. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), in collaboration with the Police forces from nine countries and regions, conducted a joint operation through the Cross-Border Anti-Scam Collaboration Platform “FRONTIER+” from March 10 to May 7. Photo shows (from left) Deputy Director of Indonesian Anti-Scam Centre, Mr Dahnial Apriyadi; Superintendent of the National Counter Scam Bureau of Korean National Police Agency, Mr Sanghyun Park; Senior Superintendent of Police of the Commercial Crime Bureau of the HKPF, Ms Kung Hing-fun; Inspector of Police of the Anti-Scam Centre of Maldives Police Service, Mr Adam Naveedh; Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Anti-Scam Command of Singapore Police Force, Ms Aileen Yap; Assistant Commissioner of Police of the National Scam Response Centre of Royal Malaysia Police, Mr Madhavan Nair Unnikrishnan; Head of Anti-Fraud Co-ordination Centre of Macao Judiciary Police, Mr Cheong Un-hong; and Senior Superintendent of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department of Royal Brunei Police Force, Mr Handrie Amin, holding a press conference on the joint operation at Maldives today (May 20). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), in collaboration with the Police forces from nine countries and regions, conducted a joint operation through the Cross-Border Anti-Scam Collaboration Platform “FRONTIER+” from March 10 to May 7. Photo shows (from left) Deputy Director of Indonesian Anti-Scam Centre, Mr Dahnial Apriyadi; Superintendent of the National Counter Scam Bureau of Korean National Police Agency, Mr Sanghyun Park; Senior Superintendent of Police of the Commercial Crime Bureau of the HKPF, Ms Kung Hing-fun; Inspector of Police of the Anti-Scam Centre of Maldives Police Service, Mr Adam Naveedh; Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Anti-Scam Command of Singapore Police Force, Ms Aileen Yap; Assistant Commissioner of Police of the National Scam Response Centre of Royal Malaysia Police, Mr Madhavan Nair Unnikrishnan; Head of Anti-Fraud Co-ordination Centre of Macao Judiciary Police, Mr Cheong Un-hong; and Senior Superintendent of Police of the Criminal Investigation Department of Royal Brunei Police Force, Mr Handrie Amin, holding a press conference on the joint operation at Maldives today (May 20). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million

Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drugs cases in Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong International Airport respectively yesterday (May 21) and today (May 22), and seized a total of about 21.8 kilograms of assorted drugs with a total estimated market value of about $7.95 million. Two men and one woman, aged between 38 and 49, were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers intercepted a 48-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman in Tseung Kwan O during an anti-narcotics operation yesterday afternoon. About 3.8kg of suspected drugs, including ketamine, methamphetamine, etomidate capsules, psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA and a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia were found in their residence in the same district. They were then arrested.

In the second case, a 38-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, today. During customs clearance, Customs officers found about 18kg of suspected ketamine inside his check-in suitcase and 33 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man and woman in the first case have been jointly charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and one count of possession of apparatus fit and intended for the inhalation of a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (May 23), while an investigation is ongoing for the second case.

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 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.

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.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

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 $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects two dangerous drugs cases and seizes suspected drugs worth about $7.95 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases