Hong Kong police arrested 347 people after three days of raids on illegal gambling, drugs and sex activities. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Police in Hong Kong have arrested 347 people as part of a campaign to dismantle large-scale criminal operations across the city. Law enforcement raided 252 venues over three days to crack down on gambling, sex and drug businesses controlled by the triad. Some of the properties for which police executed search warrants include bars, saunas, nightclubs and mahjong parlors.
Addressing tripartite activities is a key priority for the Commissioner
They also closed unlicensed bars, drug dens and illegal gambling facilities. The suspects face various charges, including drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, running an illegal gambling facility, and money laundering. A police spokesperson confirmed that tackling triad activities is a key priority for the Commissioner and that law enforcement authorities will continue to carry out these types of investigations.
This is not the first major set of raids on illegal gambling in Hong Kong. Authorities arrested 335 people in a similar operation in November, and confiscated gaming chips and various weapons worth HK$1.8 million (US$230,362). Then in December, it arrested hundreds more people in more gambling raids, including a person suspected of laundering HK$15 million (US$1.9 million) in illegal gambling proceeds.
Most forms of gambling are currently illegal in Hong Kong, with the main exceptions of state-run lotteries, horse racing betting, and football betting.
