HONG KONG - More than 90 people have been arrested in Hong Kong after housewives with gambling debts were allegedly forced by triad gang members to deal in drugs in Tai Po housing estates. The gang lured mostly female gamblers into mahjong parlors, then pushed them into taking out loans with 2,400-per-cent interest rates when they lost, the Hong Kong Standard said, citing police.

The syndicate was smashed on Monday after a four-month investigation codenamed Operation Arrowroot. A total of 91 people were arrested, including the alleged masterminds, two brothers named Tsui, aged 55 and 58, and 15 alleged hardcore members of the notorious Sun Yee On triad gang. Those arrested included 54 men and 37 women, aged between 16 and 79. A 16-year-old schoolboy helped collect debts while a 79-year-old woman was found playing mahjong illegally in a restaurant.

Mahjong parlors

The syndicate lured gamblers into mahjong parlors in several restaurants and public housing estate flats, police said. If the gamblers lost, they were pushed into taking out loans from the gang - on 2,400 percent interest.

When borrowers were unable to repay the money, they were allegedly forced into criminal activities. Police believe the syndicate committed more than 750 crimes in the past six months in Tai Po's public housing estates.

Detective Superintendent Eddy Choy Wai-fu said: "We believe half their revenue came from loan sharking, from which they earned at least HK$500,000 (some 65,000 USD) a month. We arrested quite a big number of housewives who were forced to borrow from the loan sharks after losing at mahjong."

He added police found large sums of money on some women. Choy said housewives being invited to play mahjong illegally could be forced by triads to help traffic drugs and contraband cigarettes.

"We believe it is possible that the debtors were forced to sell illicit cigarettes and drugs when they could not repay the debts at such high interest."

Investigations

Choy said after four months of undercover investigations, police launched a sting involving more than 100 officers. About HK$350,000 in cash, HK$190,000 in betting slips, HK$260,000 in betting chips, HK$39,000 worth of illicit cigarettes, two choppers and a machete were seized. About 7.5 grams of suspected heroin and 12 midazolam tablets worth about HK$4,500 were also seized.

Fourteen people including the brothers were last night still being detained while the rest were released on police bail pending further inquiries.

(The Standard)