The operation, codenamed Firedan, was launched mid-year after officers uncovered a scheme in which a local triad leader assigned family members and associates to use various bank accounts and set up shell companies to launder criminal proceeds.
According to Superintendent Chan Chung-yan of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, the group laundered up to HK$600 million over a four-year period.
Chan said the gang’s illegal income was primarily derived from selling drugs in bars and operating unlicensed establishments.
“This criminal group operates multiple licensed upstairs bars in Tsim Sha Tsui,” she said.
“They first send young people to get familiar with customers in the bars and then entice them to use drugs or even sell them drugs.This includes cocaine and the recently popular drug etomidate.
“To evade police detection, these upstairs bars are heavily secured. There are also several members of the group, known as ‘lookouts’, monitoring the buildings inside and out.
“Additionally, this triad group has opened many unlicensed entertainment venues in various commercial and industrial buildings, including unlicensed bars and baccarat gambling dens run by live dealers, using free food and drinks to attract gamblers.”
Chan said that through intelligence-led operations, undercover officers were deployed into multiple locations controlled by the triad leader.
This was followed by a large-scale arrest operation from August 21 to 29, during which police raided 15 entertainment venues across several districts, including bars and illegal gambling dens.
“In addition, the police also dismantled a weapons cache located in a residential area of Jordan, containing various weapons including machetes, butcher knives and extendable batons,” Chan said.
A total of 155 people – 89 men and 66 women aged between 16 and 76 – were arrested.
Those detained include the triad leader and his core members, for offences including money laundering, drug trafficking, drug concealment, possession of offensive weapons, claiming to be a triad member, operating illegal gambling establishments and selling alcohol without a licence.
Chan added that during the operation, police seized HK$420,000 in cash, over HK$200,000 worth of suspected drugs and approximately HK$1.8 million in gambling equipment.
