Law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong have busted a syndicate that allegedly smuggled Vietnamese people into the island territory, authorities said on Thursday.
In the operation conducted jointly by police and the immigration department, 18 people were arrested, including a Hong Kong resident of Vietnamese origin who is believed to be the head of the syndicate, Xinhua news agency reported.
Six of the arrested people were illegal migrants from Vietnam.
The syndicate arranged one or two boat trips from Vietnam each month, and about 10 people were smuggled into Hong Kong on each trip.