Raids on N.Y. Gangs Follow Hong Kong Arrest of Kingpin
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NEW YORK — Authorities raided eight suspected Asian organized crime hide-outs after the man believed to have masterminded the smuggling of Chinese immigrants into the United States was arrested in Hong Kong.
Reputed crime kingpin Kwok Ling-kay was arrested Friday at the request of the FBI, police in Hong Kong said Sunday.
Kwok, 27, is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a hearing on extradition to the United States, where he reportedly faces murder and conspiracy charges.
Kwok, the reputed leader of the Fuk Ching gang, based in New York’s Chinatown, is believed to have organized the ill-fated voyage of the Golden Venture, which ran aground off New York in June while trying to smuggle Chinese immigrants into the United States. Ten passengers drowned and 277 others were taken into custody.
Hours after Kwok’s arrest, authorities on Saturday arrested 13 people in eight raids around the city, the FBI and police said.
The defendants, who were not identified, were scheduled for arraignment in federal court today.
Specific charges weren’t released.
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