Cross-border crackdown: 11-year-old boy among 5,500 arrested in annual Hong Kong-Macau-Guangdong triad sweep
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More than 5,500 people, ranging from triad leaders to children as young as 11, were rounded up in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province during a seven-week joint operation, police revealed on Monday.
The annual crackdown targeting triad activities and organised crime, code-named “Thunderbolt 2021”, was carried out in two phases, from June 6 to July 11, then from August 16 to 30.
In Hong Kong, 2,320 people aged between 11 and 84 were arrested for a variety of offences including drug trafficking, deception, bookmaking and money laundering, according to the force. During the operation, Hong Kong police seized HK$390 million (US$50 million) in cash, narcotics and contraband goods.
Chief Superintendent Ryan Wong Wai of the organised crime and triad bureau (OCTB) said more than 1,100 people were also detained in neighbouring Guangdong, while another 2,100 were arrested or taken to police stations in Macau.
Backed by officers from customs, immigration and fire services, Hong Kong police raided nearly 2,000 locations across the city, including drug storage centres, unlicensed pubs, gambling dens and vice establishments.