The alleged former dragonhead and 27 active members of the Wo On Lok triad society were arrested in a series of raids yesterday after a 14-month undercover operation.
The weapons arsenal of the triad, also known as 'Shui Fong', was discovered in a flat in Hong Lok Street, Mong Kok, during the operation. About 20 sharpened metal bars, water pipes and knives were seized in the haul.
'Inside the flat, we seized a grinding machine that was used to sharpen weapons, and arrested six men,' a senior police officer said.
The arrests - the fourth crackdown against triad societies in four weeks - were the result of an undercover operation that began in February last year when a police officer infiltrated the triad society to collect evidence.
'The triad was involved in the recruitment of youths into a triad society, extortion, assault, wounding and drug trafficking,' acting superintendent Lam Sai-kit of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau said.
'Investigations showed that they were active in Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei and Jordan.'