Police in Guangdong Province yesterday said they detained 45 suspects from two major triads in the coastal city of Yangjiang, dealing a heavy blow to the gangs as part of an ongoing crackdown.
Gang leaders Xu Jianqiang and Lin Guoqin were nabbed by the end of last month, while a total of eight pistols, 14 bullets, criminal tools and fake certificates used by the triads have also been seized in their underground hideouts.
"The crackdown on the two triads has dealt a heavy blow to the secret societies and related crimes that used to be active in the western part of the prosperous Guangdong region, which borders Hong Kong and Macao," said a police officer from the Guangdong provincial bureau of public security, Xiao Shengxian, yesterday.
The triads are suspected of being involved in murder, assault, operating illegal casinos, loansharking, abduction and extortion, said Xiao.
The two gangs are also said to have been monopolizing local cement sales, town gas and aquatic products, and carrying out illegal activities in river sand mining and passenger transport in the past few years in Yangjiang, he said.
The police will continue to be vigilant and go after the secret societies and their illegal activities, Xiao added.
He hinted at special campaigns focusing on the triads, to be launched in the coming months.
"Guangdong enjoys rapid economic growth but will never become a haven for triads from at home and abroad," he added.
He also urged residents and tourists to actively report criminal activity and warned suspects to surrender to local police departments.
Source: China Daily
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