Triad monopolizes construction site lunchbox supply and operates illegal gambling dens, police arrest 125 people

Police have smashed a lunchbox group controlled and monopolized by a triad. Apart from running lunchbox business at construction sites in East Kowloon, investigations show that the group’s leader is also involved in illegal gambling dens in the West Kowloon area. On July 3 and 4, police launched a large-scale arrest operation, arresting 48 men and 77 women aged between 22 and 81 on charges including “claiming to be triad members,” “blackmail,” “criminal intimidation,” “money laundering,” “operating an unlicensed food premises,” and “operating gambling establishments.” The arrestees included 1 triad mastermind, 3 core members, and 5 employees.

Chief Inspector Ren Xueying said that through intelligence analysis and in-depth investigation, police found that a triad background is suspected of controlling the supply of lunchboxes at construction sites. By means of harassment, intimidation, blackmail and other tactics, the group monopolized the lunchbox business at residential construction sites in East Kowloon and profited from it. The group comprised 4 core members, who set up an unlicensed food manufacturing facility in a “one-stop” manner. To lower operating costs, the mastermind built a corrugated iron structure in Sai Kung as the facility, and handed management to his girlfriend. The local workers hired by them processed food ingredients of unknown origin using rudimentary equipment in an environment with poor hygiene conditions. The mastermind also arranged for 2 other group members and hired workers to transport the lunchboxes to construction sites in East Kowloon outside the worksites, and set up stalls for on-the-spot sales.

To prevent new lunchbox suppliers from entering the sites, the group members would personally patrol the sites. When they found new faces appearing, they would harass, criminally destroy, or intimidate other operators to drive them away, or use illegal means to force other lunchbox suppliers to submit protection money, in an attempt to maintain their monopoly over the relevant lunchbox supply to those sites.

She said that in March this year, 5 detectives disguised as newly arrived lunchbox suppliers set up stalls outside one of the large residential construction sites in Sau Mau Ping. They were immediately approached and harassed by members of the group; the disguised detectives were intimidated and items used for selling lunchboxes were damaged. The mastermind also made extortion demands, claiming that a one-off “entry fee” of 70,000 yuan was required, as well as a monthly 3,000 yuan “monthly fee,” in exchange for the right to operate a lunchbox business at the construction site.

Police investigation found that the group sold 800 lunchboxes every day, priced at 50 yuan each, with an annual turnover of nearly 12 million yuan. Between 2023 and this year, group members also used the group’s bank accounts to launder 64 million yuan in suspected criminal proceeds. Apart from operating the lunchbox business at construction sites in East Kowloon, investigations also showed that the group’s leader was involved in illegal gambling dens in West Kowloon. Police therefore took action and successfully dismantled 4 illegal gambling establishments operated by the criminal group.

Police urge any lawful lunchbox vendors or construction workers who encounter harassment by triad members to report it to the police immediately. Under the laws of Hong Kong, the crimes of “blackmail” and “criminal intimidation” are serious offences. Once convicted, the maximum penalties are imprisonment of 14 years and 5 years, respectively.