HK and Guangdong law enforcement bust forgery syndicate

The Immigration Department, together with the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, carried out a joint operation to dismantle a cross-border forgery syndicate that recruited mainland residents to work illegally in Hong Kong, arresting 119 people.

The Immigration Department displayed a large number of seized forged Hong Kong identity cards and copies of identity cards.

The Immigration Department stated that in August last year, mainland law enforcement agencies discovered a cross-border forgery syndicate that used messaging apps to create groups to recruit mainland residents to come to Hong Kong for illegal work. They claimed to provide a “one-stop” service, including illegal worker dormitories, forged identity cards, and assistance in finding jobs.

After investigation by law enforcement on both sides, a three-month operation was launched. In November last year, the Immigration Department targeted suspected illegal worker dormitories and searched 38 locations, arresting a total of 102 people, including two ringleaders of the syndicate and 17 employers. The syndicate had been operating for about a year and involved more than HK$20 million. Mainland law enforcement arrested 17 people on the mainland on suspicion of forging identity cards.