Speaking at a press conference Sunday afternoon, Cheung Kim-ping, superintendent of crime (operations) of Kowloon East, said that police have successfully brought the triad activities in Kwun Tong, Tsueng Kwan O and Sau Mau Ping areas to a halt via this operation.

"Undercover police officers were deployed to infiltrate into triad society to gather intelligence and evidence," he said.

"During the operation, a total of 149 persons with triad affiliation, including eight office bearers and 67 triad members, were arrested. They are believed to be involved in triad-related offenses, including managing a triad society, drug trafficking, robbery and theft," Cheung added.

Meanwhile, police, together with the C&E department, smashed a number of triad-controlled syndicates which were responsible for selling dutiable cigarettes, pirated optical discs and marked oil.

"The operation once again showed Police's determination and capability in cracking down on triad activities. We will continue to actively gather intelligence and take actions with other law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2002)