Hong Kong Police Detain 65 Suspects in Major Crackdown on Illegal Gambling Operations and Unlicensed Nightclubs

Hong Kong police have arrested 65 people after launching a major enforcement operation against a suspected criminal syndicate allegedly involved in running illegal gambling establishments, operating unlicensed nightclubs and laundering more than HK$13 million ($1.7 million) in suspected illicit proceeds.

The two-day operation, codenamed Thunderbolt and Roaring Tiger, was conducted by the Kowloon West Regional Crime Headquarters in cooperation with the Immigration Department. More than 170 officers took part in raids at 10 locations across Hung Hom, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and Sham Shui Po.

Police said intelligence gathered during the investigation suggested that the syndicate had been operating unlicensed nightclubs inside industrial buildings in Hung Hom, while also managing illegal gambling venues in other parts of Kowloon West.

A total of 65 suspects — 40 men and 25 women aged between 25 and 63 — were arrested during the operation. They are being investigated for a variety of alleged offences, including operating illegal gambling establishments, participating in illegal gambling activities, money laundering, drug trafficking, possession of dangerous drugs and violating immigration conditions.

The first phase of the operation focused on three suspected illegal entertainment venues in Hung Hom. Police officers arrested 26 people, including 19 men and seven women, after discovering premises that were allegedly operating without licences and were suspected of supplying illicit drugs and employing mainland Chinese women holding two-way permits as hostesses.

During the raids, officers seized around 360 grams of suspected narcotics, including ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine and a substance commonly referred to as “happy powder”. Police estimated the drugs had a street value of approximately HK$190,000 ($24,200). Authorities also confiscated alcohol, sound equipment and other materials believed to be connected to the operation of the venues.

A separate police action targeting two suspected nightclubs in Tsim Sha Tsui led to the arrest of 10 mainland Chinese women aged between 25 and 40. The women were suspected of working as hostesses in violation of their visa conditions.

Investigators also carried out searches at three suspected illegal gambling locations and a property believed to have served as both a staff dormitory and a storage site for the syndicate.

Police said the gambling operations involved fishing arcade games and alleged that the syndicate had used third-party bank accounts to handle proceeds generated from the illegal activities. Financial investigations revealed that more than HK$13 million ($1.7 million) had allegedly been laundered through the personal bank account of a key syndicate member over a period of several years.

During the gambling-related raids, officers arrested an additional 29 people, consisting of 21 men and eight women aged between 27 and 63. They are being investigated on suspicion of money laundering, conspiracy to operate illegal gambling establishments, operating illegal gambling establishments and gambling at illegal gambling venues.

Police seized 20 gaming console motherboards, card readers, gambling reward cards and HK$47,000 ($6,000) in cash believed to be connected to the suspected illegal gambling activities.

Under Hong Kong law, anyone convicted of operating an illegal gambling establishment can face a maximum punishment of seven years in prison and a fine of up to HK$5 million ($637,000). Individuals found guilty of gambling at an illegal gambling establishment may receive a penalty of up to nine months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 ($6,400).

Authorities said selling alcohol without the required licence is also a serious offence, carrying a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$1 million ($127,000).

By fLEXI tEAM