Police forces in Hong Kong have recently stepped up enforcement actions against illegal taxi-for-hire activities, arresting six individuals in just one week. On Monday (3rd), in a successful operation at Tsuen Wan in the New Territories North, officers intercepted a Hong Kong-bound cross-border unlicensed vehicle. Using a bait operation, officers impersonated passengers on a major social media platform in mainland China, ordering a luxury seven-seater vehicle from Tsuen Wan to Huizhou in Guangdong Province for a trip fee of HKD1,500. After the journey commenced, officers made the arrest, apprehending a 50-year-old male driver holding a double-entry permit who was suspected of "unlawful fare collection," "violation of stay conditions," and "no third-party insurance while driving." The driver and the vehicle have been detained and impounded, respectively. The operation involved a common modus operandi where intermediaries on social media platforms, such as Xiaohongshu, advertised and distributed passenger orders between Hong Kong and mainland China. Officers monitored these social media platforms and successfully contacted one of these intermediaries, who then arranged the trip and charged HKD1,500 for a single journey to Huizhou. The arrested driver was found to be operating a vehicle under his friend's registration, raising questions about the legitimacy of the car's ownership and the potential misuse of the vehicle. These actions follow a broader crackdown on illegal taxi-for-hire services, which are subject to severe penalties under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374). First-time offenders can face fines of up to HKD10,000 and up to six months in prison, while second-time offenders face higher penalties. The driver’s driving license will also be suspended for at least 12 months up to three years. The Transport Department will confiscate the vehicle for six months for first-time offenders and 12 months for repeat offenders, and revoke the crossing permit of the involved cross-border vehicle.