Hong Kong Police Score Major Coup Against $142M Illegal Gambling Ring

Investigators in Hong Kong have busted a $142-million criminal ring tied to money laundering and illegal gambling, and allegedly linked to the Sun Yee On triad, one of the largest criminal organizations in the region.

Hong Kong Police Bust One of the Largest Illegal Gambling Rings

A total of 15 people have been apprehended in the operation, which is one of the largest moves against the illegal gambling sector in recent months. The criminal enterprise operated in the New Territories and Kowloon areas of Hong Kong.

Among the arrestees was the ringleader, who is believed to be himself a high-ranking member of the Sun Yee On triad. The members of the criminal organization were arrested in two specific locations that were scouted out during the course of the investigation.

Upon carrying out the arrests, police also found $3.2 million worth of cash and assets at the ringleader’s residence. Another $2.1 million in cash and luxury watches with a net value $900,000 were also seized.

Since 2021, the Hong Kong police have been able to arrest thousands of people. The most recent data from 2023 suggests that 6,101 people were arrested in total over gambling-linked offenses, which range from organized crime to participating in gambling.

Sun Yee On Triad Has Its Paws in Many Unlawful Pies

In the raid against Sun Yee On’s illegal gambling operation, the police were also able to identify multiple bank accounts supposedly used to conduct business on behalf of the group. The syndicate’s operations in Hong Kong had been monitored for about a year before police finally decided to move in.

The syndicate’s operations did not stop at gambling or money laundering, and included drugs, loan sharking, extortion, and fraud.