The East Kowloon Region launched a two-day anti-triad operation codenamed "Shen Lei", searching more than 50 gang-controlled game consoles, illegal gambling stalls, drug canteens and unlicensed bars in Hong Kong, arresting a total of 265 people.
The police investigation found that the criminal tactics of the gangs are different from the past. They recruit customers on social platforms and provide "one-stop" services, including unlimited drinks and drugs, and even having female companions to accompany alcohol.
Some "dark fields" openly mark the price of drugs, and also mix gambling and drugs. "Guests can bet on machines while taking drugs."
The gang keeps pace with the times, posting a QR code in the venue, and collecting money with mobile stored-value payment tools.
During the operation, the police seized a large number of exhibits.
(Photo by Wang Yiyang)
The police said that the East Kowloon Region had earlier sent a number of detectives to infiltrate a number of triad-controlled gaming centers, illegal gambling venues, drug dens and unlicensed bars in the area to collect evidence.
Investigations revealed that they used game consoles and social platforms to induce young people to engage in illegal activities.
During the operation, the police mobilized a total of more than 500 people. The East Kowloon Criminal Headquarters, together with its various criminal units, special duty teams, mobile units, gambling experts, and West Kowloon criminal detectives, started last night (29th) for two consecutive days. Crack down on illegal triad activities that are active in East Kowloon.
The youngest 16-year-old "Daifenzi" was arrested
At 8 o'clock last night, officers raided more than 50 premises in Hong Kong, including 10 gaming machine centers operating illegal gambling, 15 gambling establishments, providing various gambling activities such as baccarat, poker, mahjong, and fishing machines, and Drug canteens and unlicensed bars.
The police arrested a total of 265 people, including 202 men and 63 women, aged between 16 and 79. Among them, the 16-year-old arrested was involved in the crime of redeeming points in the game console.
Among the arrested are 6 persons of non-Chinese descent. Many of the arrested persons have triad background, and 57 persons are still wanted.
The arrested persons were involved in crimes such as "illegal operation of a gambling establishment", "violation of a game console license", "trafficking in dangerous drugs" and "selling of alcoholic beverages without a license", "professing to be a triad officer", "professing to be a triad member", etc. .
During the operation, the police seized a total of 730,000 yuan in cash, as well as 339 gambling game machines, 15 value-added machines, 228 game stored-value cards, card readers and a large number of score books.
In terms of drugs, the police seized a total of about 60,000 yuan worth of drugs such as methamphetamine, heroin, and Smurfs, as well as a large number of packaging and smoking tools.
The police also frozen four local bank accounts and one stored-value payment instrument account, totalling 1.4 million Hong Kong dollars, suspected of being used by gangsters to deal with the proceeds of crime.
The police issued 75 fixed penalty notices for violating the "Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance" and arrested 14 persons in charge. Among them, 5 game console centers had violated the law and required immediate compulsory closure.
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According to the police investigation, the gang members used the gaming center to conduct illegal gambling, conspired to divide the guests of the gaming center, exchange the points for cash and draw commissions for profit.
"Paying points" is highly vigilant and will test the identity of customers, even requiring proof of work and only redeeming points to regular customers.
Some game console centers use game tokens to replace point cards, requiring guests to exchange tokens for token exchange coupons, and then exchange for cash.
The monthly turnover of gaming center gambling is as high as 1 million yuan, and the profit is considerable.
List the price of drugs blatantly, QR code charges
Gang members will also use the game console center to attract new customers and then take them to the "dark field" for entertainment.
The "dark field" provides one-stop services, such as unlicensed alcohol and illegal gambling at the same time, and some premises blatantly list the prices of different drugs.
Among them, the drug cave is a mixed business model that provides drugs and gambling. "Guests can bet on the machine while taking drugs." It even provides free methamphetamine and smoking tools for solicitation. It also uses mobile stored-value payment tool accounts to collect money, and it will also be in the premises. Post the QR code for receiving money.
Intelligence also shows that gang members have listed new terms on social platforms. For example, when guests pay high admission fees, they can get a "one-stop" package service, including unlimited drinks and drugs, as well as female companions.
Members will send staff to accompany guests in and out of unlicensed bars to make them feel at ease. They will also install steel gates, soundproofing, closed-circuit television and arrange "watchers" in nearby streets.
The police launched an operation codenamed "Shen Lei" and arrested 265 people.
(Photo by Wang Yiyang)
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