Police break up triad racket

A triad-run syndicate that allegedly tried to squeeze payments of up to $300,000 out of a construction site, massage parlour and two restaurants has been broken up by police.

Anti-triad officers had arrested six men, including the syndicate's suspected mastermind, police said yesterday.

Another gang member was picked up when he entered the territory at Lowu.

Senior Inspector Martin Wong Kai-chung from Yau Tsim district said the gang demanded protection fees ranging from several thousand dollars to $300,000.

A construction company that carried out renovation work in a Yau Ma Tei residential and commercial building was asked to pay from $200,000 to $300,000.

No protection fees were paid in any of the four cases.