HOUSTON, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Twenty two people, including two former police officer, were arrested in a year-long investigation into illegal gambling and organized criminal activity in Houston, local officials said Wednesday.

More than 2.3 million U.S. dollars in illegal proceeds in the city's Chinatown area were also seized in the joint investigation by the Harris County District Attorney's Office and Houston Police Department, said Kim Ogg, district attorney of Harris County, at a press conference.

The two former Houston police officers, Huy Ly and Larry Nguyen, have been charged with money laundering, the Houston Police said via Twitter.

The other charges range from money laundering to engaging in organized crime, Ogg said.

These arrests came as the Asian community has been troubled with robberies and violent crimes over the past two years.

Houston, the county seat of Harris County, has one of the highest crime rates in the southern U.S. state of Texas.