31 pupils among 43 arrested in crackdown on Hong Kong criminal syndicates recruiting teens

Hong Kong police have arrested 43 people, including 31 students, in a crackdown on four criminal syndicates that offered money and free illicit drugs as bait to lure teenagers to illegal businesses.

The force said on Wednesday that investigations revealed many core members of the youth-led syndicates were students attending schools in Wong Tai Sin district.

The Post learned that some of their key figures were suspected members of triad societies such as Sun Yee On and 14K.

“Some core figures, along with other members, resorted to intimidation tactics, even physically assaulting schoolmates to extort protection fees,” Inspector Mok Ka-ho of the Wong Tai Sin criminal investigation team said.

Mok revealed that HK$300 (US$39) to HK$400 had been extorted from one of the victims every week for about six months, totalling more than HK$8,000.