Police Arrest Two In Yau Ma Tei Fake Cash Raid

Police said on Sunday they had arrested two people and seized nine suspected counterfeit banknotes worth a total of HK$9,000 after raiding a hotel room in Yau Ma Tei.

The force said that in an operation on Saturday, officers also seized electronic equipment, printers, cutting tools, 12 ID cards and one fake ID card.

They said they took action after receiving a report last month from a convenience store in Yuen Long that it had received two suspected counterfeit banknotes, both with the same serial number.

The two suspects, 29 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of making and passing counterfeit banknotes, possession of a forged Hong Kong ID and possession of ID cards belonging to others.

Officers said the case is believed to be connected to five other counterfeit banknote cases over the past two months across Kowloon and New Territories. Taxi drivers, massage shop staff and convenience stores have lost around HK$17,500 between them.

"We believe that the offenders have made use of these counterfeit banknotes in the evening during some hasty transactions, such as in convenience stores and on public transport," said Wong Chung-kuen, an inspector of the Yuen Long District Crime Squad. "During transactions, they have used both real and fake banknotes, and also used different methods to distract the staff."

Wong added that there has not been a large amount of counterfeit banknotes in circulation.