Hong Kong police arrested an alleged triad mastermind and four core gang members in raids yesterday morning, reports say. Around 50 officers stormed six flats in Kowloon East at 7am.
The alleged members of the Sun Yee On triad faction are accused of using youths to courier their drugs in order to avoid detection.
“Initial investigations showed that over the past few years, the gang used seven bank accounts and a [Jockey Club] account to launder HKD220 million in drug and other criminal proceeds,” said Chief Inspector Lam Cheuk-ho of Kowloon East regional crime unit, told the SCMP.
It is believed the 59-year-old triad leader, one of the people arrested yesterday, hired more than 60 youngsters to do his dirty work over the last few years.
The four other arrestees – three men and one woman – are said to be high ranking gang members. The woman’s husband, also a suspected triad member, is apparently on the run.
All five were arrested on suspicion of dealing in proceeds relating to drug trafficking, which carries a maximum penalty of a HKD5 million fine and 14 years in jail. No-one has so far been charged.
Police say they have arrested 63 alleged drug traffickers between the ages of 13 and 21 over the last two years, with HKD3.2 million worth of drugs confiscated.
“The youths were recruited by the syndicate while hanging out in parks, cybercafés, video game centres and sitting-out areas at public housing estates,” Inspector Lam said.
