Hong Kong police arrest 125 people in a crackdown on a triad-linked syndicate accused of monopolising lunchbox catering for construction workers and running illegal gambling dens. Police say the group is active in East Kowloon, where increased residential and construction activity has raised demand for takeaway meals. In an undercover operation, officers target a network believed to have secured a monopoly over lunchbox supply at private and public housing construction sites.
Police allege the syndicate intimidates and extorts other vendors to maintain control of the lunchbox trade, while using the steady income from the business to support further criminal activity. Alongside the catering operation, police say the group also operates multiple illegal gambling dens. The arrests are made as part of the wider police effort to disrupt organised crime networks and reduce related harm in areas with active construction and housing developments. Authorities provide details of the operation and charges are expected to follow as the case progresses.
