HONG KONG RAIDS FOLLOW AUSTRALIA'S RECORD HEROIN BUST

Hong Kong police raided six homes in connection with Australia's largest
drug bust yesterday as a freighter used to import the 400kilograms of
heroin was searched in Sydney.

Two people questioned in the Chinese territory were wives of Hong Kong
nationals arrested on Wednesday as a boat took the high-grade heroin from
the freighter Uniana to an isolated beach near Port Macquarie.

Hong Kong Narcotics Bureau officers conducted simultaneous raids across the
former British colony, seizing documents relating to the drug-smuggling
operation, a Hong Kong police spokesman said.

They believe the mastermind of the international syndicate is a man from
Hong Kong - the method used by the smugglers fitting the way he operated.
Some of the suspects had been under surveillance in Hong Kong for years.

"We have not made any arrests so far," a police spokesman in the territory
said. "However, we plan more raids and expect some arrests to perhaps
follow then."

Chief Superintendent Koo Sii-hong, of Hong Kong's Narcotics Bureau, said
four residents were questioned and the raids netted reams of financial
documents.

Seven Hong Kong Chinese nationals and 11 Indonesians are in custody in
Australia following the bust, which involved 100 police and customs
officers and a Navy frigate. They will appear in Sydney's Central Local
Court today charged over the importation of a prohibited import.

Hong Kong police originally tipped off the Australian Federal Police when
they suspected a Hong Kong resident had left for Sydney as part of a heroin
deal. The man arrived in Sydney on August 7 and was placed under surveillance.

In Hong Kong, Superintendent Koo said the drugs were bound for the
Australian market but had not passed through Hong Kong. Police there
believe the freighter, allegedly used to ship the drugs from the Golden
Triangle, had not used Hong Kong or mainland Chinese seaports.

It arrived at HMAS Platypus Naval Base in Sydney Harbour about 12.30pm
yesterday, flanked by two customs boats and a Navy frigate.

- - AAP

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski