Hong Kong police arrest 53 in anti-triad raids over drugs, vice
Police arrested 53 people in coordinated raids against triad-linked activities including drug trafficking and prostitution. Officers seized HK$1 million worth of cannabis and closed a flat used as a drug packaging centre. Those held included 22 Hong Kong locals, 19 mainland Chinese and 12 foreign na
Hong Kong police have arrested 53 people in a territory-wide crackdown on triad-controlled crime, seizing nearly HK$1 million (US$128,000) worth of cannabis and breaking up a drug-packaging operation run from a public housing flat.
Acting Senior Superintendent of Hong Kong Island Regional Crime, Kwok Ming-kwok, said the operation targeted illegal activities related to gambling, drugs and prostitution. Working with the Immigration Department, officers arrested 25 men and 28 women aged 19 to 68, including 22 Hong Kong locals, 19 mainland Chinese and 12 foreign nationals. The operation remains ongoing.
Chief Inspector of the Anti-Triad Operations Unit, Lo Kin-bong, said a drug trafficking syndicate used a public housing unit as a cover for a storage and packaging centre, supplying cannabis to entertainment venues on Hong Kong Island. Officers arrested two local men in Chai Wan and seized cannabis, including cannabis cigarettes and cannabis candy, from the flat.
In a separate operation in Wan Chai, undercover officers posing as buyers arrested a foreign national who was selling drugs to bar customers on the street. Police also identified several upstairs private clubs and bars where sex workers were suspected of offering services to patrons. Officers raided a private club linked to triads, arresting four men and 13 women, including five core members of the syndicate.
Kwok noted that such private clubs are highly wary of new customers, making enforcement and evidence-gathering more difficult. He said police would continue to tackle the problem from multiple angles.