Twelve people have been arrested in Hong Kong and mainland China for their alleged roles in a cross-border money laundering operation that moved HK$118 million ($15 million) through cryptocurrency and hundreds of fraudulent bank accounts, local media reported on May 17.
According to Hong Kong Commercial Daily, the criminal syndicate used over 500 so-called stooge accounts (bank accounts opened or provided by third parties) to receive proceeds from fraud cases.
The money was then funneled through local crypto exchange shops, effectively masking its origins.
Crypto Laundering Ring Operated from Mong Kok Apartment, Police Say
The group is believed to have operated out of a rented apartment in Mong Kok, where they planned and coordinated laundering activities.
Authorities say more than HK$9.4 million ($1.2 million) of the funds can be linked to at least 58 confirmed fraud cases.
The operation came to a head on May 15 after police surveillance tracked two suspected syndicate recruits leaving the Mong Kok baseβone visiting a bank, the other an ATM.
Both individuals later attempted to convert cash into cryptocurrency at a shop in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Officers intervened before the funds could be laundered, arresting both on the spot and seizing around HK$770,000 ($98,540) in cash.
Ten additional suspects, aged between 20 and 41, were apprehended soon after.
During the raids, authorities recovered approximately HK$1.05 million ($134,370) in cash, over 560 ATM cards, several mobile phones, and documents linked to bank and crypto transactions.
Senior Inspector Tse Ka-lun of the Commercial Crime Bureau stated that many of the bank accounts used in the scheme were provided by friends and relatives of those involved, often without understanding the full extent of the criminal activity.
The arrests come amid a surge in fraud-related crimes in the city. Reports of fraud rose by 12% in 2024, with over 10,000 related arrests.
Police noted that about 73% of those cases involved individuals controlling stooge accounts.
Hong Kong Intensifies Crypto Crackdown
The crackdown coincides with Hong Kongβs broader efforts to tighten oversight of its crypto sector.
Last week, Hong Kong Cyber ββSecurity and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) announced the launch of a virtual asset analysis tool to aid in crypto crime investigations.
Dubbed βCryptoTraceβ, the tool is developed in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, offering βadvanced intelligence and investigation support to crime investigation units.β
The Bureau said that they conducted virtual asset investigations and CryptoTrace training sessions in March.
The course was aimed at strengthening the capabilities of frontline officers in handling virtual asset cases.
In addition to fighting crypto-related crimes, CSTCB has been actively engaging with stakeholders across sectors.
Titus, a legal firm in Hong Kong, noted that the city-state lost a staggering $3.1 billion in the first 10 months of 2024 to crypto-related scams.
Additionally, the government recently exposed a sophisticated scam related to the fake βNational Hong Kong Coin.β The scam misled the public into believing the government would soon launch an official digital currency.
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