Undercover officer helps to cripple triad faction

An undercover detective infiltrated a triad society to help crack its rackets, police said yesterday.

Detectives say the Chuen Yat Chi faction - also known as the Lo Chuen Society and active in Tsuen Wan, Mongkok and Tai Kok Tsui - had been halted after an eight-month operation culminating in joint raids by the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau and Narcotics Bureau.

Eight men aged from 19 to 43 were arrested for alleged triad and drug activities.

A French-made 7.65mm PPK automatic pistol, nine rounds of ammunition and seven knives were seized. Drugs worth $2.4 million, including 2kg of heroin, 2.5kg of 'ice' and 1kg of cannabis were also found in a flat in Tsuen Wan on Thursday.

It is believed the drugs were seized after the undercover officer set up a purchase in a Tsuen Wan street. Follow-up raids were carried out in Mongkok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wong Tai Sin and Tsuen Wan.

'There are still a few triad members on the run,' Organised Crime and Triad Bureau Senior Superintendent Sin Kam-wah said.

The men are being quizzed over drug-dealing, money laundering, bookmaking and possession of offensive weapons.