A 17-year-old triad faction leader who recruited followers as young as 12 and ran protection rackets for the right to use playgrounds has been arrested.
The faction was involved in the sale of pirated compact discs and illicit cigarettes, Assistant Central district commander (Crime) Superintendent Maurice Ng Po-keung said.
He said the 14K triad faction allegedly headed by the Form Four student started its recruitment drive in Central last September.
Schoolchildren, some still in primary schools, had been targeted.
'Most members were approached by the leader on soccer pitches, playgrounds or parks in Central,' Mr Ng said.
'He claimed he could protect them and they could continue to play there. Otherwise, they would face assaults or knife attacks.
'They were ordered to pay either $3.60 or $36, according to how much money they had, in lai see to become members of the triad society.' Senior Inspector Lau Tak-ming, head of Central district's anti-triad section, said people were no longer required to attend a ceremony to become a triad member.
