Police raid Lai Chi Kok Road baccarat den, arrest eight
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police said the Mong Kok Police District Special Duty Squad carried out an anti-gambling operation codenamed “Fullboom” on September 17, raiding a unit on Lai Chi Kok Road and shutting down a suspected illegal baccarat den. Eight people were arrested, including two women suspected of managing the venue and six suspected gamblers found inside the flat. Officers said they seized a baccarat table, about HK$20,000 in suspected gambling proceeds, chips with a face value of about HK$220,000 and other gambling paraphernalia.
Key Points
- Police said the raid followed in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis that identified a target unit on Lai Chi Kok Road before officers moved in on September 17.
- Inside the flat, officers found people suspected of taking part in baccarat gambling and immediately brought everyone at the premises under control.
- A 61-year-old local woman was arrested on suspicion of managing a gambling establishment, while a 27-year-old local woman was arrested for assisting management.
- The other six arrestees included one local man, one mainland Chinese man and four local women aged between 30 and 77.
- All eight suspects were being detained as police investigated the den’s actual operating period, money flows and whether other people were involved.
Why It Matters
The case underlines the legal risks for both operators and patrons of illegal gambling venues in Hong Kong, where police said managing such a place can carry a maximum penalty of a HK$5 million fine and seven years’ imprisonment. Police also used the case to warn landlords to understand how their properties are being used, as rented units can be exploited for unlawful activities.