Police have arrested 999 people and seized 17 million HK dollars worth of illicit goods in a tripartite anti-crime operation between Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macao authorities, the Hong Kong Police announced Thursday.

About 3,700 locations, including discos, game centers, massage establishments and residential units were searched during the month-long operation ending Thursday, the Police said in a statement.

Thirty-nine vice establishments and 17 gambling dens were shut down, while 999 people were arrested for triad- and vice-related offenses, gambling and drug offenses, and trade- and commodities- related offenses.

Police seized more than 14 kg of ketamine, 1.37 kg of cocaine and different types of psychotropic drugs worth 3 million HK dollars.

About 80,000 pornographic and pirated discs worth 2.5 million HK dollars were seized, along with 11 million HK dollars worth of soccer and horseracing betting records, 7,200 contraband cigarettes and 150 counterfeit items, according to the statement.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2009)