Crackdown on triads sees 500 arrested

More than 500 people have been arrested in a crackdown on triad activities over the past six days.

Operation Glaring Sun, which kicked off last Wednesday, is a joint operation by police from Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau, according to a police source.

'The crackdown mainly targets the illegal activities and revenue sources of various triad societies,' the source said.

'So far, hundreds of people have been arrested in raids across Hong Kong. They included suspected triad members and mainland prostitutes.'

Triad gangs being targeted by police include the Wo Shing Wo and 14K. Knives, baseball bats, contraband cigarettes, illegal fuel and drugs were seized during the raids.

The Organised Crime and Triad Bureau is co-ordinating the raids with the assistance of officers from various police districts.

The operation will continue until Sunday.

About 110 people were arrested when officers raided six massage parlours in Kowloon West early yesterday. Two in Yau Ma Tei are believed to be under the control of triad gangs.

Detectives from Kowloon West regional crime unit arrested eight people when they raided a drug den in Yau Ma Tei and a storage centre for contraband cigarettes in Shamshuipo yesterday morning.

The two venues are suspected to have been controlled by the Wo Shing Wo, another source said.

About $50,000 worth of cigarettes and a small quantity of drugs were seized in the raids, which were part of Glaring Sun.

In a separate exercise, 81 women were arrested late on Monday night after two undercover policemen posing as customers went to a bar in Tsim Sha Tsui East suspected of being used as a vice establishment.

Chief Inspector Cheng Kwok-keung of the Kowloon West regional crime unit said 79 of the women were suspected mainland prostitutes. Two Hong Kong women were arrested on suspicion of breaching liquor licensing conditions and operating a vice establishment.

Officers believe the bar was controlled by the Wo Shing Wo.