Notable triad members and rural chiefs in Yuen Long have been arrested in a police swoop over the last two days.

More than 200 police officers from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) together with the Financial Investigation Division of the Narcotics Bureau and the New Territories North Region took part in the operation, which swept up 84 male suspects and 46 females at 21 locations. Those arrested are aged between 30 and 69. Some remain in police custody.

Police seized assets including HK$3.4 million in cash and foreign currencies, 11 luxury watches and two luxury cars worth a total of HK$8 million. Police say the luxury items were part of the money laundering scheme to make the money appear clean.

Superintendent Lau Shu-sing of the OCTB said those arrested were involved in operating illegal businesses, such as money laundering, unlawful gambling, managing vice establishments, selling illicit fuel and other triad related offenses.

Police revealed triad members made use of accounts of their wives or mistresses to launder a massive sum of money to the tune of HK$300 million.

The illegal gambling establishments brought an income averaging at least HK$100,000 a day, providing a major source of income to the triads.

Officers denied the case has anything to do with the Chief Executive election, saying that the swoop was a pure triad-related, intelligence-based action that was commenced late last year.

A police spokesman added the arrests dealt a serious blow to two medium-sized gangs that were both active and sophisticated.

Among those reportedly arrested was Kwok Wing-hung, said to be a triad heavyweight of Wo Shing Wo with a nickname of "Shanghai boy".

Ha Tsuen Rural Committee Chairman Tang Lai-tung and Ping Shan Rural Committee Chairman Tsang Shu-wo were also on the list of those being detained.

Kwok Ho-fai, chief superintendent from the OCTB, refused to disclose whether any rural chiefs were involved in the vice activities, claiming investigations are still ongoing.

Leung Fuk-yuen, chairman of Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee, who attended the Lau Fau Shan dinner, rejected allegations that he was involved in the arrest. He said reports of his arrest were a tactic used by some politicians aiming at discrediting him.

Heung Yee Kuk Vice-Chairman Daniel Lam Wai-keung said the Kuk does not intend to investigate the matter, saying this is a single case which would not affect the credibility of rural committee members.

mingyeung@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 08/04/2012 page1)