Gambling den raided in Hong Kong

The authorities arrested eight people and seized US$ 32,600 in gambling chips and cash.

Hong Kong.- The Honk Kong police conducted raid in a flat located in Castle Peak Road finding an illegal den which made as much as HK$1.6 million (US$ 206,338) a week from illegal online baccarat games.

The Police began investigating the illicit casino after receiving a tip-off. Officers had to break down the front door as the people inside had refused to open it. Eight people were arrested in the operation and officers confiscated HK$253,000 (US$ 32,600) in gambling chips and cash along with a computer and a television set.  The eight suspects, seven men and one woman, aged 22 to 70, were arrested and accused of operating, assisting the operation of, or gambling in, a gambling establishment.

According to Sham Shui Po district operations officer Chief Inspector Ricky Cheung Ka-po, initial investigations showed the gambling den, which was open between 6pm and 3am, had been in operations for about six months.

“To avoid detection, it served only regular customers, and surveillance cameras were installed at the front entrance to monitor the area outside the den. Computer records showed it took in HK$1.6 million in bets last week,” Cheung said.

One of the suspects arrested on suspicion of operating a gambling den is believed to be a member of the Sun Yee On triad. Police are investigating whether the establishment was controlled by a local triad or not.