Hong Kong's graft watchdog on Monday announced that a joint operation held with police has resulted in the arrests of 42 people over offences ranging from alleged bribery in securing several buildings' maintenance projects, to operating illegal gambling dens.

The operation, dubbed "Scabbard", cracked down on triad infiltration in building maintenance projects.

In a statement, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) noted that it has received complaints since mid-2025, alleging that a project consultancy firm had helped construction companies secure contracts in various local housing estates through bribery.

Investigations found that the consultancy firm had allegedly engaged triad members, who are linked to it and worked as middlemen, to manipulate tendering processes.

One case involved a major renovation project of a housing estate under the Tenants Purchase Scheme in the New Territories – estimated to be over HK$160 million – which the consultancy firm secured at a price far below a reasonable level, or 0.5 percent of the contract sum.

The firm is also suspected of accepting bribes to lobby flat owners of a building in Kowloon to award a fire safety improvement contract to a certain contractor at about twice the market price.

The ICAC noted that its actions have prevented corrupt dealings from taking place in both cases.

The graft watchdog said it arrested 10 men aged between 28 and 61, including the proprietor and a registered inspector of the project consultancy firm, as well as several triad-linked middlemen, the proprietors of two project contractors and a property management company director.

Following the ICAC's enforcement actions, police also raided multiple locations in the New Territories believed to be controlled by those with triad backgrounds who were arrested by the anti-graft agency. The force arrested 32 people for suspected gambling and operating gambling establishments.

Police also shut down two unlawful mahjong dens and an illegal baccarat gambling den.

The "Scabbard" operation took place on March 26 and 27.


Edited by Aaron Tam