Man arrested at border in probe into $450,000 trading card sales dispute

A 35-year-old man suspected of involvement in a payment dispute linked to a Mong Kok consignment shop has been arrested while attempting to leave Hong Kong, police said.

The case centers on a shop called “Shooting Star” at Silvercord Plaza in Mong Kok, which operated as a consignment grid shop and pinball game outlet. Police have classified the case as theft after multiple sellers reported missing sales proceeds and collectibles.

The suspect, surnamed Wong, was arrested on March 10 at about 5.40pm at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point while trying to depart the city. Officers found several Pokémon trading cards in his possession at the time of the arrest.

Police said the shop had rented out display grid spaces to individuals who wished to sell Pokémon trading cards. The rental fee for each grid was around HK$600 per month, and the shop operator would collect cash payments from buyers before passing the proceeds to the card owners.

Investigators believe that between March and December last year, Wong rented out the grids to multiple vendors and paid sellers their revenue in cash each month.

However, beginning in January this year, some vendors reported they had not received payment for cards sold through the shop. At least nine sellers said proceeds from 242 Pokémon cards, worth about HK$223,000, were not returned. They later lost contact with the operator and decided to report the matter to police.

Police said they have so far identified 65 victims, with total losses exceeding HK$450,000 in unpaid sales proceeds and missing trading cards.

According to police, multiple reports were received starting February 20, with complainants saying they had consigned trading cards to a shop on Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok, but were unable to retrieve either the proceeds or their cards.

Following an investigation, officers arrested the suspect at the border crossing. He has been detained for further inquiries.

The case is now being handled by the Mong Kok District Crime Squad Team 10, and police are continuing efforts to locate two other shareholders of the shop believed to be connected to the business.

Investigators are also looking into the origin of the Pokémon cards found on the suspect at the time of his arrest.