Hong Kong Police announced on November 7, 2025 that an anti-crime operation codenamed THUNDERBOLT 2025, mounted jointly with the police authorities of Guangdong and Macao, led to 4,140 arrests and the seizure of cash, dangerous drugs and illicit goods worth about HKD 548 million1. The operation ran in two phases, from August 4 to September 6 and from October 11 to October 251.
Police said they conducted searches at about 1,700 locations and neutralized over 800 illegal premises, including gambling dens, vice establishments, divans and unlicensed bars1. Those arrested included 2 454 men and 1 686 women aged between 13 and 89; 780 were Mainlanders and 557 were non-ethnic Chinese1.
Seized items included offensive weapons, cash totaling HKD 13.6 million suspected to be proceeds of crime, and dangerous drugs worth over HKD 500 million, among them etomidate, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis1. The police statement listed the grounds for arrest as triad-related or drug-related crimes, including murder, wounding, claiming to be a member of a triad society, criminal damage, blackmail, possession of offensive weapons, trafficking in dangerous drugs, operating illegal gambling establishments, keeping a divan, operating vice establishments, control over persons for prostitution, and money laundering1.
"Hong Kong Police arrested 4 140 persons and seized cash, dangerous drugs and illicit goods relating to illegal activities worth about $548 million in total in the operation."
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Persons arrested | 4 140 (2 454 men, 1 686 women) |
| Age range | 13 to 89 |
| Mainlanders arrested | 780 |
| Non-ethnic Chinese arrested | 557 |
| Locations searched | About 1,700 |
| Illegal premises neutralized | Over 800 |
| Total value seized | About HKD 548 million |
| Cash suspected as crime proceeds | HKD 13.6 million |
| Dangerous drugs seized | Over HKD 500 million |
What it means for players
The operation targeted illegal premises that included gambling dens and divans, meaning some of the venues shut down were places where people gamble outside Hong Kong's regulated system1. Hong Kong allows betting only through authorized operators; anyone who gambled at an unlicensed venue caught in the sweep was exposed to enforcement action, and the police statement lists operating illegal gambling establishments and keeping a divan among the arrest categories1. For visitors and expats, the practical point is that unlicensed gambling venues in the region can be tied to triad and organized crime networks, which is the stated focus of the operation1. Background on what is and is not legal in the territory is set out in the guide to gambling in Hong Kong, and reporting options and warning signs are covered in gambling scams and safety in Asia and what to do after a gambling scam.
What happens next
Hong Kong Police said they would continue to maintain close liaison and exchange intelligence with the police authorities of the Mainland and Macao, with a view to combating triad and organized crime activity, neutralizing cross-boundary crimes and interdicting the criminals' source of income1. No further operation dates or follow-up enforcement phases have been reported1.
