In a significant cross-jurisdictional law enforcement operation, authorities from Mainland China and Hong Kong have successfully dismantled a sophisticated document forgery syndicate operating across boundaries. The operation culminated in the arrest of 119 individuals allegedly involved in the criminal network.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) disclosed details of the operation on Thursday, revealing that their investigators executed ‘Operation Sharpspear’ between October 2025 and January 2026. During this intensive four-month period, law enforcement personnel conducted raids at 38 different locations throughout Hong Kong, resulting in the apprehension of 102 suspects connected to the forgery ring.
Simultaneously, mainland Chinese authorities conducted complementary operations that targeted the production facilities of the criminal organization. Their efforts led to the disruption of two separate forgery workshops and the arrest of 17 individuals identified as core members of the syndicate’s leadership structure.
The ImmD emphasized that their investigation remains active and ongoing, indicating that additional arrests may follow as authorities continue to unravel the full extent of the criminal network’s operations. The joint operation represents one of the most significant collaborative efforts between mainland and Hong Kong authorities in combating cross-border organized crime in recent years.
This successful operation highlights the strengthened cooperation between law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions in combating sophisticated criminal enterprises that attempt to exploit administrative boundaries for illicit activities. The scale of the syndicate and the duration of the investigation suggest a highly organized operation capable of producing fraudulent documents on a substantial scale.