Law enforcement agencies report multiple fraud and drug seizures across East Asia

Law enforcement agencies across East Asia have reported several distinct criminal incidents involving fraud, drug trafficking, and theft.

In Japan, police are investigating a Chinese couple in Kobe for allegedly using a mini-PC hidden behind a hotel refrigerator to launch a massive phishing operation. The device reportedly sent approximately 480,000 fraudulent emails to steal financial data and contained 2.4 million collected email addresses.

In Hong Kong, authorities dismantled a cross-border scam involving the ‘Hao Hao Hao Group’. The group allegedly used agarwood tree tokenization and a cryptocurrency called ‘iBBB Coin’ to defraud investors, primarily elderly individuals, of 14 million TWD. Six individuals were arrested.

Additionally, Hong Kong Customs intercepted two drug trafficking cases at the international airport, seizing approximately 8.8 kilograms of suspected cannabis and unpaid cigarettes with an estimated market value of 1.83 million HKD. Two mainland travelers have been charged.

In Taiwan, police in Kaohsiung prevented a 100,000 TWD fraud attempt after a bank alerted officers to a man attempting to withdraw funds for a suspicious cryptocurrency investment following a romantic online interaction.

In Mong Kok, a claw machine shop reported a theft of 193 plush toys valued at 193,000 HKD, allegedly carried out by four men during a shareholder dispute.