Six domestic helpers arrested on suspicion of illegal dental operation
發佈日期: 2025-08-18 21:51
TVB News
The Immigration Department on Sunday arrested six foreign domestic helpers on suspicion of
providing illegal dental services.
The six suspects are all Filipinos, aged between 34 and 60.
The Immigration Department received a report saying someone might have been providing illegal dental services from a tenement unit in Sham Shui Po.
After investigating the case, immigration officers on Sunday launched an operation.
During the raid, authorities seized multiple items from the unit, including dental equipment for cleaning, and braces.
The department said the six suspects operated their dental "business" every Sunday. The service charge for each session costs between 150 and 500 dollars.
Two suspects claiming to be dentists said they had picked up their skills from the internet. The rest were assistants.
Apart from the six arrested, the department said 13 Filipino customers were at the scene when they raided the unit.
Sources say the two "dentists" have been frequenting Hong Kong for more than a decade and have been running the "business" for over a year.
The Immigration Department said the unit's hygiene was poor, and the suspects were dressed in normal outfits, posing a great risk of infection.
On YouTube, videos are readily available teaching people how to clean teeth.
Some YouTubers say that cleaning teeth at home can be risky but they would still do it. This is not the first time Immigration officers have arrested people for operating an illegal dental business.
In 2021, authorities arrested four Indonesian domestic helpers. Some domestic helpers say these dental care services often appear on social media.
IRENE said, "I have seen (advertisement) on Facebook when scrolling my phone. I have seen a lot but I haven't got interested."
A domestic helper agent said current medical insurance for the community does not include teeth cleaning services, and some people may opt for illegal options because of the lower charges.
