The Immigration Department (ImmD) has dismantled a cross-border syndicate involved in producing fake identification documents and facilitating illegal labor, arresting 119 individuals in a joint operation.
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The arrest follows a cross-border cooperation between October 2025 and January 2026, with the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and Entry-Exit Administrative Division of Zhuhai Municipal Public Security Bureau.
The operation covered 38 locations in Hong Kong, including 16 residences and 22 workplaces, resulting in 102 arrests locally. Authorities in mainland China apprehended 17 additional suspects.
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Among those arrested in Hong Kong, which included 31 men and 71 women, were two suspected masterminds of the syndicate, 83 illegal workers, and 17 employers.
The group, uncovered by mainland authorities last August, reportedly recruited mainland residents via messaging apps to work illegally in Hong Kong.
Notably, they offered a comprehensive “one-stop” service that included the provision of forged Hong Kong ID cards, accommodation, and job placement assistance.
It is reported that the syndicate charged approximately HK$3,200 per forged ID card and dormitory accommodation between HK$1,600 and HK$1,800 per month.
The counterfeit IDs were produced on the mainland and smuggled into Hong Kong, often concealed in hidden compartments such as shoe soles to evade border checks.
It is pointed out that all counterfeit IDs were of poor quality and lacked key security features, such as the tactile relief, full-colour image under UV light and the ink with optically variable properties.
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The operation led to the seizure of 40 forged Hong Kong ID cards and 24 additional copies of Hong Kong IDs.
Investigations indicate the syndicate had been operating for about a year, bringing mainlanders into Hong Kong on tourist visas to work as dishwashers, cleaners, bakers, and pharmacy staff.
The ImmD described this case as having the highest number of arrests and counterfeit documents recovered to date, emphasizing that investigations are ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out.
They reiterated their commitment to intensifying efforts to target illegal workers and employers to protect local job opportunities and public order, maintaining close contact with mainland authorities.
