Hong Kong customs arrests 2 Opatra staff over aggressive sales tactics
Hong Kong customs officers have arrested two staff members from the local operations of Opatra London, a beauty chain embroiled in controversy over aggressive sales tactics, the South China Morning Post has learned. The financial and administration managers — a man and a woman respectively — were detained on Wednesday, according to an insider, marking the first arrests linked to the UK-based…
Hong Kong customs officers have apprehended two Opatra London employees for their involvement in aggressive sales strategies, as the company's parent organization in the UK severed its ties. The 42-year-old male financial manager and 25-year-old female administrative manager were apprehended on Wednesday, according to Senior Investigator Leung Ka-ho from the customs' trade descriptions investigation bureau.
This marks the first arrest related to the brand, which has been criticized for employing high-pressure sales tactics aimed at middle-aged and elderly customers. The arrests were executed under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Authorities are also seeking three directors, but their whereabouts remain unknown. Leung declined to disclose the roles of the arrested individuals, stating that indications suggest they were involved in the company's operations.
Opatra Hong Kong's operations have been under intense scrutiny following at least six complaints of coercive and misleading sales practices. Victims reported purchasing items ranging from HK$1,800 to HK$100,000. One 58-year-old woman spent HK$61,400 at a Sha Tin New Town Plaza branch and later shared a viral video of her crying outside the store.
The customs raid on the company's registered office in Sheung Wan, which turned out to be a secretarial firm's address, led to the seizure of documents. The Consumer Council has received complaints from three customers and will handle the cases accordingly. Opatra's four Hong Kong branches—located in Sha Tin, Yuen Long, Causeway Bay, and Harbour City—have suspended operations.
The chain has also faced lawsuits for unpaid rent totaling HK$795,000. Opatra Hong Kong is managed by the distributor Sayles Retail, whose directors hold Israeli, Bulgarian, and Portuguese passports. Leung emphasized that customs will actively investigate any company involved in the case, including those potentially linked to a network of affiliated skincare companies across Hong Kong.
Opatra London distanced itself from the controversy earlier, asserting that the Hong Kong outlets are independently operated under a distribution agreement and pledged to cooperate with authorities.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post - Hong Kong's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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