Crime sweep nabs some 200 suspects in island-wide gangland crackdown : CIB
The China Post news staff
November 21, 2013, 12:07 am TWN
Handmade pistols shaped like large domino pieces are shown in this photo released by the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) yesterday. A man surnamed Chi was arrested by the CIB for violating gun control regulations when he was found with seven pistols, including the domino shaped guns, in his possession. (CNA)
TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Police have arrested almost 200 people, including some important mobsters, in a new wave of crime sweeps, the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said yesterday.
Pre-dawn sting operations overseen by the National Police Agency (NPA) were launched, cracking down on several major branches of some of Taiwan's major gangs, the CIB said.
A total of 14 high-ranking mobsters and 79 of their followers were nabbed, the CIB said. Another 103 people allegedly involved in various crimes were also rounded up in raids on almost 1,500 premises around the island, CIB added.
One of the major targets of the latest actions was Tien Tao Meng, or the Heavenly Way gang, which has been behind a recent spate of high-profile criminal activities trying to intimidate the nation, the CIB said.
According to the CIB, one of the Tien Tao Meng bosses, surnamed Ma, was arrested in Taipei for allegedly controlling the prostitution trade in Wanhua district. Another boss from the gang, surnamed Lin, allegedly ran an extortion scheme in Bali, New Taipei targeting dump trucks transporting gravel.
Police in Taoyuan also clamped down on an extortion operation run by a suspect, surnamed Chang, from the Bamboo Union gang. The operation also allegedly forced underage girls into prostitution, the CIB said.
