Police in the Tai Kok Tsui neighborhood of Hong Kong arrested three men on Sunday morning on suspicion of illegal debt collection activities.
The incident unfolded around 8:26 a.m. local time when a pedestrian contacted authorities to report seeing a group of around ten men gathering with metal pipes on Beech Street, raising suspicions.
Responding officers intercepted a sedan at the intersection of Fuk Tsun Street and Tai Kok Tsui Road and arrested three men, aged 26 to 32, on charges of possessing offensive weapons and possession of offensive weapons with intent.
Police were able to seize crowbars, baseball caps, acrylic tape, a batch of masks, and a pair of vehicle tags belonging to another sedan from the suspects.
Authorities revealed that the three arrested men had known triad (organized crime) backgrounds, and are suspected of being involved in illegal debt collection activities. It is believed they were on their way to collect a debt before being apprehended by police.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over the use of intimidation and violence in Hong Kong’s underground lending industry. Authorities have vowed to crack down on illegal debt collection practices that prey on vulnerable individuals.
