Two more arrested in crackdown on illegal ride-hailing scheme

Hong Kong police have arrested two additional suspects—a 46-year-old local woman and a 36-year-old mainland woman—in connection with a criminal syndicate exploiting Alibaba's ride-hailing platform, AutoNavi Taxi (Gaode Taxi), to operate illegal passenger services using unlicensed mainland drivers.

The latest arrests in Lok Ma Chau on Sunday follow the earlier detention of two mainland drivers and three local suspects on August 15 to 16.

The two women are under investigation for conspiracy to defraud and aiding immigration violations, with the mainland suspect also facing money laundering charges.

The operation began after passengers reported last week about drivers unfamiliar with local routes and speaking non-native Cantonese when using the ride-hailing services.

Police subsequently arrested two mainland men, aged 41 and 50, for illegal carriage of passengers for hire, driving without proper insurance, and breaching stay conditions. Both have been charged, with cases now before the courts.

The New Territories North Regional Crime Unit’s investigation uncovered the syndicate recruiting mainland drivers since mid-this year, arranging visitor visas and procuring local driver’s licenses.

Drivers were provided with ride-hailing accounts registered under false identities, keeping 50 percent of fares in cash while funneling the rest to the syndicate.

At an August 16 press briefing, Superintendent Basil Tang Yick-kay revealed the operation’s sophistication: one member registering 18 hybrid vehicles at a single address to create a "fleet," while others used forged documents to bypass platform rules prohibiting account sharing.

Three local suspects, aged 40 to 65, were arrested earlier in Lok Ma Chau and Tuen Mun, facing charges including conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and facilitating illegal passenger services.

Police believe mainland collaborators coordinate driver recruitment and entry logistics.