1,177 of which are from mainland China – were detained in Hong Kong after raids on 7,500 locations across a three-month period, the SCMP reports.
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An additional 11,000 people were arrested in Guangdong, and a further 4,000 in Macau. The fragmented groups are largely responsible for extortion, drug and arms trafficking, as well as prostitution and gambling.
Au said that five major undercover operations were carried out during the sweep between June and September.
“The message we want to send out is that the police have zero tolerance to any kind of illegal activities, including triad activities”, Chief Superintendent of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, Au Chin-chau, told journalists.
The raids are an annual occurrence – an attempt to stamp out the illegal activity both locally and internationally – but with last year’s protests, Hong Kong and other policing departments had to hold off on the raid, prompting this year’s massive operation, according to TIME.
Beijing’s top official in Hong Kong is set to officiate at the opening of the territory’s new Court of Final Appeal building, less than two weeks after controversially remarking that the SAR’s leader is above legislative, executive and judicial powers.
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It came in response to intelligence, which suggested that triads operating out of Hong Kong and Macau have changed their tactics and started making forays into the mainland, in order to cooperate with local criminal elements and plan activities, a Guangdong police officer said.
