25 arrested as Hong Kong police bust loan shark ring charging up to 282% interest rate
After publishing: 2 headlines quietly rewritten, 13 descriptions edited15 changes
- South China Morning Postseen 6 Aug, 10:21description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested 25 people, some as young as 13, in a crackdown on a loan shark syndicate that charged victims annual interest rates of up to 282 per cent. Police said on Thursday that the crime ring had provided a total of HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) in loans to about 2,000 residents over the past year, with at least HK$8 million in criminal proceeds funnelled into the core members’ personal accounts. During operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, officers raided three...Hong Kong police have arrested 25 people, some as young as 13, in a crackdown on a loan shark syndicate that charged victims annual interest rates of up to 282 per cent. Police said on Thursday that the triad-linked crime ring had provided a total of HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) in loans to about 2,000 residents over the past year, with at least HK$8 million in criminal proceeds funnelled into the core members’ personal accounts. During operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, officers raided...
- South China Morning Postseen 6 Aug, 12:22description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested 25 people, some as young as 13, in a crackdown on a loan shark syndicate that charged victims annual interest rates of up to 282 per cent. Police said on Thursday that the triad-linked crime ring had provided a total of HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) in loans to about 2,000 residents over the past year, with at least HK$8 million in criminal proceeds funnelled into the core members’ personal accounts. During operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, officers raided...Hong Kong police have arrested 25 people, some as young as 13, in a crackdown on a loan shark syndicate that charged victims annual interest rates of up to 282 per cent. Police said on Thursday that the triad-linked crime ring had loaned HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) to about 2,000 residents over the past year, with at least HK$8 million in criminal proceeds funnelled into core members’ personal accounts. During operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, officers raided three operating centres...
- South China Morning Postseen 9 Aug, 09:53description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested 147 people after uncovering a triad syndicate suspected of setting up centres to coordinate bank accounts and handle HK$600 million (US$76 million) in allegedly illicit proceeds. Police said on Sunday that they had conducted a citywide operation code-named “Rapidhorse” over the previous two days against the syndicate allegedly operating drug and illegal gambling dens in Kowloon and the New Territories. The operation involved undercover detectives, the force...Hong Kong police have arrested 147 people after dismantling a triad syndicate suspected of setting up centres to coordinate bank accounts and handle HK$600 million (US$76 million) in allegedly illicit proceeds. Police said on Sunday that they had conducted a citywide operation code-named “Rapidhorse” over the previous two days against the syndicate allegedly operating drug and illegal gambling dens in Kowloon and the New Territories. The operation involved undercover detectives, the force...
- South China Morning Postseen 9 Aug, 10:12description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested 147 people after dismantling a triad syndicate suspected of setting up centres to coordinate bank accounts and handle HK$600 million (US$76 million) in allegedly illicit proceeds. Police said on Sunday that they had conducted a citywide operation code-named “Rapidhorse” over the previous two days against the syndicate allegedly operating drug and illegal gambling dens in Kowloon and the New Territories. The operation involved undercover detectives, the force...Hong Kong police have arrested 147 people after dismantling a triad syndicate suspected of setting up centres to coordinate bank accounts and handle HK$600 million (US$76 million) in allegedly illicit proceeds. Police said on Sunday that they had conducted a citywide operation, code-named “Rapidhorse”, over the previous two days against the syndicate allegedly operating drug and illegal gambling dens in Kowloon and the New Territories. The operation involved undercover detectives, the force...
- South China Morning Postseen 10 Aug, 07:23description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested eight people over an alleged compensated-dating scam syndicate that cheated victims, including teachers and healthcare workers, out of HK$6.2 million (US$790,000) by telling them they had to pay a “legal fee” to formalise contracts to become “sugar babies”. Police said on Monday that they had investigated 80 cases involving scammers who used compensated dating as a pretext to lure victims between February and July this year. The largest individual loss was...Hong Kong police have arrested eight people over an alleged compensated-dating scam syndicate that cheated victims, including teachers and healthcare workers, out of about HK$6.2 million (US$790,000) by telling them they had to pay a “legal fee” to formalise contracts to become “sugar babies”. Police said on Monday that they had investigated 80 cases involving scammers who used compensated dating as a pretext to lure victims between February and July this year. The largest individual loss was...
- South China Morning Postseen 10 Aug, 16:12description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested eight people over an alleged compensated-dating scam syndicate that cheated victims, including teachers and healthcare workers, out of about HK$6.2 million (US$790,000) by telling them they had to pay a “legal fee” to formalise contracts to become “sugar babies”. Police said on Monday that they had investigated 80 cases involving scammers who used compensated dating as a pretext to lure victims between February and July this year. The largest individual loss was...Hong Kong police have arrested eight people over an alleged compensated-dating scam syndicate that cheated victims, including teachers and healthcare workers, out of about HK$6.2 million (US$790,000) by telling them they had to pay a “legal fee” to formalise contracts to become “sugar babies”. Police said on Monday that they had investigated 80 cases involving scammers who used compensated dating as a pretext to lure victims between February 2024 and July this year. The largest individual...
- South China Morning Postseen 12 Aug, 22:57description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested a 19-year-old university student accused of swindling more than HK$3 million from a man after apparently being hoodwinked by scammers herself. Inspector Wu Kwan-yu of Tseung Kwan O police district’s intelligence section said on Wednesday that officers arrested the female student the previous day on suspicion of impersonating mainland Chinese public security officials and swindling more than HK$3 million from a local man. “Police urge youngsters to stay vigilant...Hong Kong police have arrested a 19-year-old university student accused of swindling more than HK$3 million (US$384,600) from a man after apparently being hoodwinked by scammers herself. Inspector Wu Kwan-yu of Tseung Kwan O police district’s intelligence section said on Wednesday that officers arrested the female student the previous day on suspicion of impersonating mainland Chinese public security officials and swindling more than HK$3 million from a local man. “Police urge youngsters to...
- South China Morning Postseen 16 Aug, 16:08description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested 17 people and seized HK$3.67 million in a crackdown on a fraud syndicate that recruited foreign “runners” from Malaysia to collect crime proceeds from victims. The force’s Kowloon West crime squad said on Sunday that the arrests were made in connection with “guess who I am” phone scams that duped 22 victims out of about HK$2.5 million between June and August. The single largest loss was HK$700,000. Such cons typically involve scammers calling victims and...Hong Kong police have arrested 17 people and seized HK$3.67 million (US$470,500) in a crackdown on a fraud syndicate that recruited foreign “runners” from Malaysia to collect crime proceeds from victims. The police force’s Kowloon West crime squad said on Sunday that the arrests were made in connection with “guess who I am” phone scams that duped 22 victims out of about HK$2.5 million between June and August. The single largest loss was HK$700,000. Such cons typically involve scammers calling...
- South China Morning Postseen 22 Aug, 15:39description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested two men suspected of using 110 SIM cards in a hotel room to send phishing messages, conning victims of more than HK$500,000 (US$63,766). The force said on Saturday that the men, aged 31 and 44, were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. They were allegedly linked to recent phishing scams in which fraudsters posed as delivery company staff, claiming victims had undelivered parcels, or as employees of online payment platforms, saying...Hong Kong police have arrested two men suspected of using 110 SIM cards to send phishing messages from a base of operations in a hotel and conning victims out of more than HK$500,000 (US$63,766). The force said on Saturday the men, aged 31 and 44, were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. They were allegedly linked to recent phishing scams in which fraudsters posed as delivery company staff, claiming victims had undelivered parcels, or as employees of online payment...
- South China Morning Postseen 27 Aug, 19:50headline rewritten
Officer charged after allegedly sending indecent messages to suspect’s friendHong Kong officer charged over indecent messages to suspect’s friend - South China Morning Postseen 2 Sept, 18:54description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong customs has arrested a man and seized HK$42 million (US$5.3 million) worth of the illegal narcotic “space oil” from a drug workshop fitted with a semi-automated production line capable of producing up to 160,000 cartridges in a short period. Senior investigator Chan Kit-lun of the Customs and Excise Department’s drug investigation bureau said officers intercepted a suspicious man on Tuesday and escorted him to a property in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. Inside, they found more than 3,000...Hong Kong customs has arrested a man and seized HK$42 million (US$5.3 million) worth of the illegal narcotic “space oil” from a workshop fitted with a semi-automated production line capable of churning out as many as 160,000 cartridges in a short span. Senior Investigator Chan Kit-lun of the Customs and Excise Department’s drug investigation bureau said on Wednesday officers intercepted a suspicious man the previous day and escorted him to a property in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. Inside, they found...
- South China Morning Postseen 3 Sept, 16:31description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested 21 men for possession of child pornography and upskirt images, with the arrestees including private tutors accused of surreptitiously filming their students during classes. Superintendent Wong Yick-lung of Kowloon East regional headquarters for crime said on Thursday that officers had uncovered a social media chat group containing child pornography, as well as upskirt images taken on public transport and in shopping centres, that could be downloaded. “The...Hong Kong police have arrested 21 men on suspicion of possessing child pornography and upskirt images, including private tutors accused of surreptitiously filming their students during classes. Superintendent Wong Yick-lung of the Kowloon East regional headquarters said on Thursday that officers had uncovered a social media chat group containing child pornography, as well as upskirt images taken on public transport and in shopping centres. “The arrestees included private tutors who allegedly...
- South China Morning Postseen 4 Sept, 13:20headline rewritten
Suspect deemed unfit to stand trial for aiding deadly hold-up in Hong KongSuspect deemed unfit to stand trial for alleged role in deadly hold-up 35 years ago - South China Morning Postseen 7 Sept, 20:36description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong customs officers have intercepted two travellers in separate cases at the Lo Wu border checkpoint for allegedly importing live insects commonly used as reptile feed. On Saturday, officers stopped a 71-year-old local man at the arrival hall and seized 200 crickets from his baggage, valued at about HK$2,000 (US$255). The following day, officers intercepted a 66-year-old local woman at the same checkpoint carrying 13kg (28.6 lbs) of dubia roaches, worth about HK$3,900, in her...Hong Kong customs officers have intercepted two travellers in separate cases at the Lo Wu border checkpoint for allegedly importing live insects commonly used as reptile feed. On Saturday, officers stopped a 71-year-old local man at the arrival hall and seized 200 crickets from his baggage, valued at about HK$2,000 (US$255). The following day, officers intercepted a 66-year-old local woman at the same checkpoint carrying 13kg (28.6lbs) of dubia roaches, worth about HK$3,900, in her baggage....
- South China Morning Postseen 11 Sept, 23:02description edited
what the description said, before and after
Hong Kong police have arrested a 36-year-old man suspected of having fled with a Mark Six jackpot worth around HK$30 million that he should have shared with 14 colleagues. A source said on Friday that a 53-year-old man had reported to police on Wednesday that he was one of 15 colleagues who had chipped in to buy a Mark Six ticket for the draw on Saturday. The group reportedly comprised some staff members of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). His colleague, a 36-year-old...Hong Kong police have arrested a 36-year-old man suspected of having fled with a Mark Six jackpot worth around HK$30 million (US$3.8 million) that he should have shared with 14 colleagues. A source said on Friday that a 53-year-old man had reported to police on Wednesday that he was one of 15 colleagues who had chipped in to buy a Mark Six ticket for the draw on Saturday. The group reportedly comprised some staff members of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). His colleague,...
What it is about
Who published it, and when
How it spread - 24 original reports
Thu, 6 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post04:45first to reportedited after publishing ×2
Hong Kong police have arrested 25 people, some as young as 13, in a crackdown on a loan shark syndicate that charged victims annual interest rates of up to 282 per cent. Police said on Thursday that the triad-linked crime ring had loaned HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) to about 2,000 residents over the past year, with at least HK$8 million in criminal proceeds funnelled into core members’ personal accounts. During operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, officers raided three operating centres...
Sun, 9 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post06:02edited after publishing ×2
Hong Kong police have arrested 147 people after dismantling a triad syndicate suspected of setting up centres to coordinate bank accounts and handle HK$600 million (US$76 million) in allegedly illicit proceeds. Police said on Sunday that they had conducted a citywide operation, code-named “Rapidhorse”, over the previous two days against the syndicate allegedly operating drug and illegal gambling dens in Kowloon and the New Territories. The operation involved undercover detectives, the force...
Mon, 10 August 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post06:08edited after publishing ×2
Hong Kong police have arrested eight people over an alleged compensated-dating scam syndicate that cheated victims, including teachers and healthcare workers, out of about HK$6.2 million (US$790,000) by telling them they had to pay a “legal fee” to formalise contracts to become “sugar babies”. Police said on Monday that they had investigated 80 cases involving scammers who used compensated dating as a pretext to lure victims between February 2024 and July this year. The largest individual...
- scmp.com06:08
Fraudsters posed as wealthy clients to extract bogus legal fees from victims, including teachers and healthcare workers, seeking compensated dates.
Wed, 12 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post11:39edited after publishing
Hong Kong police have arrested a 19-year-old university student accused of swindling more than HK$3 million (US$384,600) from a man after apparently being hoodwinked by scammers herself. Inspector Wu Kwan-yu of Tseung Kwan O police district’s intelligence section said on Wednesday that officers arrested the female student the previous day on suspicion of impersonating mainland Chinese public security officials and swindling more than HK$3 million from a local man. “Police urge youngsters to...
Sat, 15 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post15:11
Hong Kong police have launched an internal investigation into a female officer who posted a video of herself dancing in uniform on mainland Chinese social media, and ordered her to remove it. The video, which has gone viral in recent days, shows a short-haired female constable making hand gestures and moving to upbeat music. Her face is partly obscured by a filter featuring dog ears and a muzzle. A police spokesman confirmed to the South China Morning Post that the woman in the video was a...
Sun, 16 August 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post10:03edited after publishing
Hong Kong police have arrested 17 people and seized HK$3.67 million (US$470,500) in a crackdown on a fraud syndicate that recruited foreign “runners” from Malaysia to collect crime proceeds from victims. The police force’s Kowloon West crime squad said on Sunday that the arrests were made in connection with “guess who I am” phone scams that duped 22 victims out of about HK$2.5 million between June and August. The single largest loss was HK$700,000. Such cons typically involve scammers calling...
- South China Morning Post12:54
Hong Kong police have arrested 16 people as part of efforts to clamp down on juvenile crime, with those apprehended including a 13‑year‑old boy linked to a shoplifting case involving stolen goods worth about HK$4,000 (US$510). Officers from the force’s New Territories South regional headquarters said on Sunday that the arrestees, aged 13 to 39, included 11 teenagers. They were apprehended on suspicion of various offences, including disorderly conduct, possession of offensive weapons and...
Sat, 22 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post10:01edited after publishing
Hong Kong police have arrested two men suspected of using 110 SIM cards to send phishing messages from a base of operations in a hotel and conning victims out of more than HK$500,000 (US$63,766). The force said on Saturday the men, aged 31 and 44, were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. They were allegedly linked to recent phishing scams in which fraudsters posed as delivery company staff, claiming victims had undelivered parcels, or as employees of online payment...
Wed, 26 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post12:33
Hong Kong customs officers have seized suspected men’s sexual health pills and cancer treatment drugs worth more than HK$11 million (US$1.4 million) in a Sheung Shui warehouse, arresting two people. Inspector Shirley Woo Suet‑yi of the syndicate crimes investigation bureau at the Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday that officers had noticed a rising demand for controlled pharmaceutical products in recent weeks. Investigators launched the probe early this month and identified an...
Thu, 27 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post15:09edited after publishing
previously
Officer charged after allegedly sending indecent messages to suspect’s friendA Hong Kong police officer has been charged with misconduct after allegedly sending obscene messages and photos to a woman friend of a suspect in a criminal investigation. Officers from the New Territories South regional crime unit detained the 32‑year‑old man in Tuen Mun on August 20, a police spokesman said on Thursday. During an investigation into a case in May last year, the officer from Kwai Tsing police district allegedly contacted a friend of one of the suspects and sent her indecent...
Sun, 30 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post12:55
Hong Kong police have arrested 321 people, including a 13-year-old, and seized HK$130 million (US$16.5 million) worth of suspected illegal drugs during a seven-week citywide crackdown. Code-named “Tailbacker”, the operation ran from July 12 to August 29, and uncovered 234 drug-related cases, police said on Sunday. The 321 suspects, aged between 13 and 72, comprised 228 men, 65 women and 28 minors. They were arrested for suspected offences that included the manufacturing, possession, and...
Mon, 31 August 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post10:26
Hong Kong authorities have arrested 50 people, including some with alleged triad backgrounds, in a crackdown on bid-rigging activities involving 27 housing estates and buildings and about HK$500 million (US$64.1 million) in contracts. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), police and antitrust regulator the Competition Commission on Monday revealed details of their joint operation, which was conducted last week. The ICAC said the suspects included the alleged mastermind and...
Wed, 2 September 2026
3 reports- South China Morning Post11:43edited after publishing
Hong Kong customs has arrested a man and seized HK$42 million (US$5.3 million) worth of the illegal narcotic “space oil” from a workshop fitted with a semi-automated production line capable of churning out as many as 160,000 cartridges in a short span. Senior Investigator Chan Kit-lun of the Customs and Excise Department’s drug investigation bureau said on Wednesday officers intercepted a suspicious man the previous day and escorted him to a property in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. Inside, they found...
- South China Morning Post14:09
Hong Kong police have arrested a man on suspicion of stealing nearly HK$6,000 (US$770) in foreign currency while flying to the city from Thailand, with a passenger allegedly capturing the incident on camera and reporting it to cabin crew. The force said the 57-year-old man was arrested for the alleged theft after the HK Express flight landed in the city shortly before midnight on Wednesday. While police estimated the currency was worth about HK$6,000, a source put the amount at 25,000 baht,...
- South China Morning Post14:28
Hong Kong authorities have arrested a man and woman from a clinic on suspicion of selling a laboratory reagent as a bogus vaccine against more than 20 types of cancer. The arrests followed a joint operation by the Department of Health and police, during which investigators raided 13 premises linked to the company, said Frank Chan Ling-fung, an assistant director of health who oversees drug matters. Chan said there had been no reports of illness among people who had received the “WT1 cancer...
Thu, 3 September 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post10:31edited after publishing
Hong Kong police have arrested 21 men on suspicion of possessing child pornography and upskirt images, including private tutors accused of surreptitiously filming their students during classes. Superintendent Wong Yick-lung of the Kowloon East regional headquarters said on Thursday that officers had uncovered a social media chat group containing child pornography, as well as upskirt images taken on public transport and in shopping centres. “The arrestees included private tutors who allegedly...
- South China Morning Post12:43
A man who engaged in sexual acts with his younger sister when he was just a teenager knew his behaviour was “seriously wrong”, prosecutors have told Hong Kong’s High Court. Senior Public Prosecutor Karen Ng Ka-yuet said on Thursday that the older sibling, believed to have been aged between 11 and 14 at the time of the alleged offences, was fully aware that the acts involving his sister, three years younger, were inappropriate. The five alleged incidents took place on unspecified dates only...
Fri, 4 September 2026
2 reports- South China Morning Post08:02edited after publishing
previously
Suspect deemed unfit to stand trial for aiding deadly hold-up in Hong KongA mainland Chinese man has been deemed unfit to stand trial for his alleged involvement in a deadly shooting during a botched robbery in Hong Kong 35 years ago, after he was diagnosed with a cognitive impairment caused by lung cancer. A High Court jury of four men and three women ruled on Friday that Shenzhen resident Wen Wenye, 61, could not be held criminally liable for murder and attempted robbery because he was unable to understand the legal proceedings and give instructions to his...
- South China Morning Post10:45
Five former employees of Hong Kong supermarket chain ParknShop and its contractors have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud by falsifying workers’ attendance records to cheat the retail giant of HK$3.2 million (US$408,000). The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Friday that an investigation revealed that the former supermarket employees colluded with contractor staff over two years to deceive ParknShop by falsifying attendance records for 13 warehouse workers who...
Sun, 6 September 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post11:58
Hong Kong police have arrested a man in connection with a scam in which at least 14 people were hired to “sell flags” for an animal concern group after they were spotted carrying fake donation bags and mixing with registered volunteers to collect money from passers-by. The rare street scam came to light during the group’s flag day on Saturday, a Social Welfare Department-approved fundraising initiative under which about 800 registered volunteers from the Hong Kong Saving Cat and Dog...
Mon, 7 September 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post11:32edited after publishing
Hong Kong customs officers have intercepted two travellers in separate cases at the Lo Wu border checkpoint for allegedly importing live insects commonly used as reptile feed. On Saturday, officers stopped a 71-year-old local man at the arrival hall and seized 200 crickets from his baggage, valued at about HK$2,000 (US$255). The following day, officers intercepted a 66-year-old local woman at the same checkpoint carrying 13kg (28.6lbs) of dubia roaches, worth about HK$3,900, in her baggage....
Tue, 8 September 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post10:09
Hong Kong customs has smashed an international drug trafficking network over the summer, seizing 6.1 tonnes of suspected narcotics worth more than HK$1.4 billion (US$178.5 million) and arresting 150 people as syndicates actively recruited students during the holiday period. Acting head of the Customs and Excise Department’s drug investigation bureau Wong Ngar-lun said on Tuesday that real-time intelligence exchanges with overseas law enforcement agencies helped dismantle complex, multilayered...
Fri, 11 September 2026
1 report- South China Morning Post16:15edited after publishing
Hong Kong police have arrested a 36-year-old man suspected of having fled with a Mark Six jackpot worth around HK$30 million (US$3.8 million) that he should have shared with 14 colleagues. A source said on Friday that a 53-year-old man had reported to police on Wednesday that he was one of 15 colleagues who had chipped in to buy a Mark Six ticket for the draw on Saturday. The group reportedly comprised some staff members of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). His colleague,...