"Crackdown on Underground Gambling: Hong Kong Police Shut Down 17 Illicit Gambling Establishments, Arrest Over 200 Individuals"
In a bid to combat organized crime, particularly triads, local authorities in Hong Kong conducted a large-scale operation named "Dragon Wind" from August 17 to 21, 2025. This operation, the latest in a series of crackdowns on illegal gambling, resulted in the shutdown of 17 establishments and the detainment of 1,104 individuals.
The seized evidence included gambling machines, mahjong and baccarat tables, and other devices, along with gambling chips worth approximately HK$700,000 (USD$89,600) and over HK$60,000 (USD$7,600) in cash. Among those arrested, 15 were property owners, 4 were tenants, and at least one managed an account used for electronic payments.
The illegal gambling businesses, often located in buildings without management organizations, employed various tactics to avoid detection. These included the use of surveillance systems at entrances and the reliance on e-payments, posing a challenge in combating them.
The establishments were suspected of being linked to criminal syndicates, or triads, and the illegal business is known for its fierce competition and potential outbreaks of violence among underground gambling groups.
It's important to note that this operation is part of broader strategies to dismantle the financial infrastructure of triads. In a similar operation during the UEFA Euro 2024 in July 2024, known as "Operation CROWBEAK"/"WINDSHIELD", 735 individuals were arrested, betting records totaling HK$692 million were seized, and cash assets exceeding HK$2.5 million were confiscated.
However, during the "Dragon Wind" operation in 2025, no specific persons beyond the owners and tenants of the closed illegal gambling operations were reported to have been arrested based on the available search results.
Despite these efforts, the fight against illegal gambling continues to be a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies worldwide.
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