Shops forced to pay high prices for unwanted goods
Thirteen suspected triad members were arrested yesterday for allegedly trying to extort money from shops, restaurants and factories in exchange for Lunar New Year tangerine trees.
About 400 trees, which could have reaped more than $300,000 in extortion fees, were seized when 50 officers raided an abandoned godown in Wang Toi Shan, off Fan Kam Road, in Pat Heung at about 11am.
The 13 men, suspected of being members of the 14K triad society, were rounded up inside the godown, where officers also confiscated two cars and two vans.
Last night the alleged mastermind of the gang and two or three more members, who have been identified, were still being hunted by police.
The 13 suspects were about to leave the godown to deliver trees in a van at the time of the raid, said Superintendent Shing Pui-fun of New Territories North crime unit.