Hong Kong police busted a Tsuen Wan-based prostitution ring this week and arrested 38 people, including the group’s alleged mastermind.
A series of raids were conducted over Tuesday and Wednesday for Operation TOPBRASS (who names these?!), SCMP reports. The prostitution syndicate is alleged to have been run by the Wo Shing Wo triad, which operated brothels in 40 to 50 sub-divided flats around Tsuen Wan over around two years.
Over 300 mainland Chinese women are believed to have been recruited to work as prostitutes by the triad last year.
Chief Inspector Leung Kwok-wing of the New Territories South regional crime unit said the gang intimidated independent prostitutes into working for them, and handing over half of their profits.
A total of 15 men and 23 women between the ages of 17 and 63 were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday, including a 29-year-old man alleged to be the syndicate’s mastermind and a Wo Shing Wo member.
Around HKD820,000 in cash and valuables was reportedly seized as evidence during Operation TOPBRASS (caps for full effect, obvs). None of the arrestees have yet to be charged.
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