"Hong Kong arrests 65 individuals in illegal gambling and drug crackdown"

Police in Hong Kong are intensifying their efforts to combat drug and gambling-related crimes, resulting in the arrest of 65 members of a criminal syndicate. These individuals were apprehended for their involvement in a major illegal operation that included managing gambling dens and unlicensed nightclubs.

The suspects are allegedly involved in supplying drugs and operating an illegal hostess service. In the past two days, Kowloon West's regional crime headquarters conducted a major operation called Thunderbolt and Roaring Tiger to cut off the syndicate’s income sources, according to Superintendent Billy Ching Chi-yan. The operation, which ran from Friday to Saturday, engaged over 170 officers and led to raids on 10 venues. Among the 65 suspects apprehended, there were 40 men and 25 women. Police targeted illegal nightclubs and, in particular, three suspected gambling dens. The syndicate was offering fishing arcade games, with Chief Inspector Alex Yau Yu-sing of Kowloon West’s anti-triad unit explaining that members had been using customers' bank accounts as mules to manage the proceeds from these gambling dens. In total, 21 men and eight women were arrested for allegedly operating and participating in illegal gambling activities.