HONG KONG: Hong Kong police said Monday they had arrested nearly 90 people, including four Americans, in the second operation this month targeting triad organized crime gangs in the southern Chinese city.
Officers raided scores of locations including an illegal casino during the two-day operation, which resulted in 86 arrests and dealt a major blow to gang networks, police said.
“Seventy males and 16 females aged between 14 and 73 were arrested,” Superintendent Kwok Ho-fai said.
The suspects were accused of crimes including managing a triad gang, operating illegal casinos, drug trafficking and selling liquor without a licence.
Four Americans — three 16-year-olds and one 14-year-old — were among those detained during a raid at an unlicensed bar.
Police seized a small amount of the hallucinogenic drug ketamine and more than 600 bottles of counterfeit wine, or “cheap wine put in expensive bottles,” Kwok said.
An undercover police operative provided crucial information leading to the arrests.
Police arrested 130 suspected triad members earlier this month for allegedly laundering around HK$300 million ($38.7 million) from their illegal activities over a two-year period.
Four American teens netted in Hong Kong triad raids
