Police bust illegal gambling den in Sheung Shui, arrest 9

Police have arrested nine people during a raid on an alleged illegal gambling den in Sheung Shui on Tuesday.

Officers from the Border District anti-triad unit raided a tenement building unit on San Lok Street after gathering intelligence and conducting an in-depth investigation.

A 37-year-old local woman, surnamed Yeung, was arrested for operating a gambling establishment, while four local men and four local women aged between 28 and 65 were arrested for gambling in a gambling establishment.

Authorities seized a baccarat table, numerous decks of playing cards, gambling chips worth approximately HK$210,000 and about HK$5,000 in cash.

All suspects remain in custody for investigation. Police reiterated that both operating gambling establishments and gambling in such venues are serious offenses under Hong Kong's Gambling Ordinance, carrying maximum penalties of HK$5 million fines with seven years' imprisonment for operators, and HK$30,000 fines with nine months' imprisonment for gamblers.