Hong Kong Island police crack down on pornography and gambling

Police Hong Kong Island Regional Crime Division, in conjunction with Wan Chai Police District, Eastern District Police District and Tactical Unit officers, yesterday (16th) launched a law enforcement operation code-named "Thunderbolt 2022 (THUNDERBOLT 2022)" in various districts on Hong Kong Island to inspect multiple criminal cases. A total of 17 men and 14 women (aged 19 to 52) were arrested, 15 of whom were involved in gambling and 16 were involved in prostitution.

Among them, the police arrested 8 Thai transgender people when they were "freeing snakes" in the Fuji Building in Wanchai, and revealed that some people were dressed as women to pick up customers, and they concealed from the customers that they were men.

The arrestee charges $600 to $800 each time he provides sexual services.

(Photo by Leung Wai Kwan)

At about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the Hong Kong Island Region Anti-Triad Action Team, together with the Wan Chai Police District Special Duty Team and the Mobile Force, dispatched disguised detectives to the Fuji Building, 381-383 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, to crack down on pornography and seized a batch of prostitution tools, including Condoms and mouthwash, etc.

During the operation, eight men and one woman (aged 26 to 36) were arrested on suspicion of "violating the conditions of stay".

According to sources, all the arrested persons in the case entered Hong Kong with Thai passports and arrived in Hong Kong for about a week.

Each time they offer sexual services, they charge anywhere from 600 to 800 yuan.

Around the same time, the Wan Chai Police District Anti-Triad Action Team and the Special Duty Team raided two units, 345-351 Hennessy Road and 509 Lockhart Road, respectively, smashed two suspected prostitution establishments, and seized a batch of massage oil, tissues, and bed sheets. and towels and other prostitution tools.

During the operation, a 38-year-old local woman and a 19-year-old non-Chinese woman were both arrested for "management of prostitution establishments"; the other three local women and two non-Chinese women (19-45 years old) were arrested for "assistance". "Management of Prostitution Establishments", "Breach of Conditions of Stay" and contravention of the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F).

The officers also issued 4 penalty notices for violating relevant epidemic prevention regulations. At the same time, they found a 35-year-old male customer who did not wear a mask at the massage place and scanned the QR code of "Travel With Peace of Mind", and issued a fixed penalty notice to him.

The Eastern District Police District Special Duty Team smashed 2 illegal fishing machine gambling stalls at Fort Street and Cheung Hong Street in North Point at about 2:00 p.m. yesterday, and seized 4 fishing machines, 8 shooting game machines, and a batch of game cards. Card device and about 2,500 yuan in gambling money.

A 35-year-old non-Chinese woman and a 39-year-old local man were arrested on suspicion of "managing gambling establishments"; 6 local men, 2 local women, 2 non-Chinese men and 3 non-Chinese women (aged 31 to 52) ), was arrested for "gambling in casinos" and for contravening the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F).

The officers also issued 13 fixed penalty notices for breaching relevant epidemic prevention regulations.