Five Arrested for Using False Documents to Withdraw $10 Billion at HSBC

Five individuals were arrested in Hong Kong for attempting to withdraw $10 billion from HSBC using allegedly forged documents. The initial suspects, a 38-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man, claimed to be a lawyer and businessman, respectively, while three additional suspects were later arrested, including two men from Malaysia and Taiwan and a woman from mainland China. They reportedly presented forged letters of credit to bank staff, who became suspicious and alerted authorities. Meanwhile, in Southern California, two Chinese nationals were arrested for allegedly smuggling counterfeit goods through a cargo-swapping scheme at local ports. The scheme involved removing contraband from shipping containers and replacing it with junk cargo to evade inspections. Law enforcement officials emphasized the importance of protecting U.S. borders from illegal smuggling operations.