• Suspects include owner of money exchange company and her two siblings, source familiar with case says
• Money changer allegedly dealt with suspicious remittance transactions through 12 bank accounts of shell company, according to customs

Hong Kong customs has arrested four people, including three siblings, in a crackdown on a money-laundering syndicate accused of processing HK$600 million (US$76.6 million) in two and half years through the bank accounts of a shell company.

The suspects included a 37-year-old owner of a money exchange company and her 34-year-old brother, who worked in her shop, and 39-year-old sister who served as the director of an investment company, a source familiar with the case said on Friday.

He said the money changer and the investment firm occupied two adjacent ground-floor shops in North Point.

According to the Customs and Excise Department, the fourth suspect – a 35-year-old man – worked as a compliance officer at the currency exchange company.

Inspector Billy Au Wing-cheung of customs’ financial investigation bureau said intelligence suggested the money changer allegedly handled a large amount of suspicious remittance transactions through 12 bank accounts of a shell company set up by the compliance officer.

“The shell company claimed that it provided computer trading and technology consulting services, but no actual business was involved,” he said.

He added there were no tax records about the company’s dealings, while the compliance officer had only reported his income from the money changer to the Inland Revenue Department.

“In two and a half years, the shell company’s accounts handled more than 1,800 transactions involving HK$600 million,” Au said, referring to the period between January 2021 and July 2023.

He said the firm handled up to 19 deals a day, with the largest single-day transaction amounting to HK$19 million.

The funds came from the bank accounts of third-party companies in Hong Kong and overseas.

“The third-party companies were involved in food wholesale and footwear trading, which were not commensurate with the businesses of the shell company,” the inspector said.

Au said the money was usually transferred out of the accounts on the same day or within a few days in a suspected money-laundering tactic.

He added an investigation indicated the owner and employee of the money changer were aware of the alleged suspicious transactions.

“The three members of the family included the alleged ringleader of the syndicate,” Au said.

After months of investigation, customs officers began an arrest operation on Wednesday and picked up the three siblings and the 35-year-old compliance officer during raids on four flats and the two North Point shops.

The four suspects were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to launder money – an offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail and a HK$5 million fine. They have been released on bail, pending further investigation.

During the operation, officers seized computers, mobile phones, remittance receipts and bank documents.

Au said customs officers were investigating the source of the money, recipients of the funds and the illegal activities behind the proceeds.

The investigation was ongoing and further arrests were possible, he added.

Source: SCMP