Hong Kong police use drones in street gambling crackdown

Police say their first use of the technology for anti-gambling enforcement improved detection speed.

Hong Kong.- Police in Hong Kong have used drones in an operation against illegal street gambling for the first time. Unmanned aerial vehicles were used in a targeted enforcement operation to monitor street-level gambling black sports from above and assist officers in identifying suspicious gatherings in real time.

The deployment was part of Operation JusticePeak, carried out across public housing estates in the New Territories by police divisions in Sha Tin and Ma On Shan between April 5 and April 18. Using the drones allowed officers to track activity more efficiently and direct patrol teams to specific locations, police said. This improved detection speed and allowed more coordinated action on the ground.

Eight people, comprising seven men and one woman aged between 53 and 76, were arrested in the Chung On Estate area. Police also seized HK$420 (US$53) in cash along with equipment believed to have been used in illegal activity. All suspects were charged with gambling in a place not authorised for such use.

Under Hong Kong law, illegal gambling in public areas carries a maximum penalty of up to nine months’ imprisonment and a HK$50,000 (US$6,384) fine. Offences, such as operating or facilitating illegal betting can lead to longer prison terms and higher fines.

See also:

See also: Bangkok Police arrest 94 in online gambling raid

Police say their first use of the technology for anti-gambling enforcement improved detection speed. Hong Kong.- Police in Hong Kong have used drones in an operation against illegal street gambling for the first time. Unmanned aerial vehicles were used in a targeted enforcement operation to monitor street-level gambling black sports from above and assist officers…