Hong Kong police have arrested 67 people after an undercover operation found a triad group running membership clubs and bars that brought in sex workers from Thailand, Taiwan and mainland China.
A source said on Saturday that the operation was the third recent effort targeting triad group Sun Yee On, including senior-ranking gangster "Little B". He was allegedly also involved in laundering nearly HK$40 billion (163 billion baht) by a syndicate that the force smashed last month.
In the July operation, police arrested 82 people and seized assets worth over HK$15 million, including a giant Labubu doll estimated to cost HK$1 million.
Superintendent Chau Ka-man said on Saturday that the force sent an undercover officer in March to infiltrate the triad group to collect intelligence and evidence, and found that the syndicate operated members' clubs and bars to sell sex worker services to customers.
The syndicate charged an "extortionate" commission, with each transaction ranging between HK$5,000 and HK$10,000, and the workers receiving about 40% or less, Chau said.
"The sex workers were primarily recruited from Thailand, Taiwan, and the mainland, with the syndicate providing food and accommodation during their stay as well as drivers between their residence and different entertainment venues for their clients," he said.
"We also found certain members of the syndicate were selling etomidate, or 'space oil' to customers."
According to Chau, how the sex workers were drafted was one of the major investigation directions, with preliminary findings indicating they learned about the opportunities via social media. But he stopped short of revealing whether overseas triads were involved.
Police seized more than HK$280,000 cash in the operation "Skycastle", including large volumes of receipts and ledgers, as well as eight seven-seater vehicles used for chauffeuring sex workers at premises in Central, Wan Chai and Tai Po on Thursday.
Chau added that 22 men and 45 women aged between 20 and 62 were arrested, including 20 Taiwanese women and a Taiwanese man, four Thai women, 17 female two-way permit holders from the mainland, and 25 Hong Kong residents.
"We have handed passport and two-way permit holders to the customs for follow-up work, while the rest are under our detention and investigation," Chau said.
The group was arrested for offences including control over persons for unlawful sexual intercourse or prostitution, living on the earnings of prostitution of others, contravening a condition of stay, and operating premises that sold liquor without a licence.
A source said on Saturday that the operation was the third recent effort targeting triad group Sun Yee On, including senior-ranking gangster "Little B". He was allegedly also involved in laundering nearly HK$40 billion (163 billion baht) by a syndicate that the force smashed last month.
In the July operation, police arrested 82 people and seized assets worth over HK$15 million, including a giant Labubu doll estimated to cost HK$1 million.
Superintendent Chau Ka-man said on Saturday that the force sent an undercover officer in March to infiltrate the triad group to collect intelligence and evidence, and found that the syndicate operated members' clubs and bars to sell sex worker services to customers.
The syndicate charged an "extortionate" commission, with each transaction ranging between HK$5,000 and HK$10,000, and the workers receiving about 40% or less, Chau said.
"The sex workers were primarily recruited from Thailand, Taiwan, and the mainland, with the syndicate providing food and accommodation during their stay as well as drivers between their residence and different entertainment venues for their clients," he said.
"We also found certain members of the syndicate were selling etomidate, or 'space oil' to customers."
According to Chau, how the sex workers were drafted was one of the major investigation directions, with preliminary findings indicating they learned about the opportunities via social media. But he stopped short of revealing whether overseas triads were involved.
Police seized more than HK$280,000 cash in the operation "Skycastle", including large volumes of receipts and ledgers, as well as eight seven-seater vehicles used for chauffeuring sex workers at premises in Central, Wan Chai and Tai Po on Thursday.
Chau added that 22 men and 45 women aged between 20 and 62 were arrested, including 20 Taiwanese women and a Taiwanese man, four Thai women, 17 female two-way permit holders from the mainland, and 25 Hong Kong residents.
"We have handed passport and two-way permit holders to the customs for follow-up work, while the rest are under our detention and investigation," Chau said.
The group was arrested for offences including control over persons for unlawful sexual intercourse or prostitution, living on the earnings of prostitution of others, contravening a condition of stay, and operating premises that sold liquor without a licence.
