Reports indicate that more than 50,000 criminals associated with triad activity have been arrested in Hong Kong and neighboring places, according to the International Business Times.
"The message we want to send out to the public is that police have zero tolerance for organized crimes and any other illegal activities," said police official Au Chin-chau, the chief-superintendent of Hong Kong's organized crime division.
The operation, codenamed "Thunderbolt 15" spanned across several months and worked in conjunction with authorities from Macau and Guangdong as well, according to the BBC.
The raids are an annual occurrence - an attempt to stamp out the illegal activity both locally and internationally - but with last year's protests, Hong Kong and other policing departments had to hold off on the raid, prompting this year's massive operation, according to TIME.
Amid the raids police were able to crack down on illegal arms dealing, illegal gambling rings, prostitution, drugs and millions in illegal money.
Au said that many months of undercover work went into the raid as well as the arrest of many of the triads most powerful leaders, like Wo Shing Wo.
With the thousands of criminals and ring leaders behind bars, many consider this year's raid a success for not only Hong Kong and its affiliates, but for the world as well.
