Suspected top triads arrested in raid on nightclub

Seventeen suspected core members of two triad societies including a 'dragonhead', or leader, were arrested early yesterday as they held talks in a Mongkok nightclub.

The 17 men, aged between 31 and 75, are believed to be officer-bearers of the Wo Shing Wo and Wo On Lok triad societies, according to police sources.

'All of them hold high positions in the two triad societies. Most of them are the '426 red-pole fighters' [a rank for triad fighters] and some of them are prominent figures in the current triad circle. They are from three different triad generations,' one source said.

Another source said: 'They include a man aged 50 who is suspected to be the present dragonhead, or overall leader, of the Wo On Lok triad society. The others include the former dragonhead of Wo Shing Wo and the current treasurer of the same society.'

The nightclub was placed under surveillance by officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau on Tuesday night after intelligence revealed the two triad societies were planning a meeting.

At about 10.30pm, the suspected triad figures began to arrive at the nightclub, which is allegedly controlled by the Wo Shing Wo. They all arrived before midnight.

'Shortly after midnight, our officers blocked all the exits of the commercial and residential block before we swooped on the nightclub when they were in the middle of their settlement talks,' the source said.