Hong Kong customs arrests 2 over allegedly coercive sales tactics at beauty chain Opatra London

Hong Kong customs officers have arrested two staff members from Opatra London's local branches over allegations of coercive sales tactics. According to the Customs and Excise Department, a 25-year-old administrative manager and a 42-year-old finance manager were taken into custody. The department claimed that Opatra London's Hong Kong locations violated the Trade Descriptions Ordinance by employing aggressive sales methods that pressured customers into purchasing goods or services they did not desire.

The investigators stated that the company targeted middle-aged or elderly shoppers, with victims reportedly pressured into making purchases ranging up to HK$100,000. Online footage shows a woman in August 2026 sitting in the Opatra London Shatin branch. The Customs and Excise Department is urging anyone who has experienced the aggressive sales tactics to report their experiences.

The investigation is still ongoing, with the possibility of additional arrests remaining open. This follows a 58-year-old woman's claim to police that she was forced to pay over HK$60,000 for unwanted items at the Sha Tin branch of Opatra London. In August, a video of the woman sitting in front of the store, crying, went viral. A former Opatra London Hong Kong employee told Cable TV on Tuesday that the company instructed staff to attract potential customers through compliments and then obtain their credit card information.

Opatra London's UK headquarters stated that the Hong Kong stores are operated by a local distribution partner and are not directly managed by the firm's head office in London. Opatra London operates four locations in Hong Kong, including branches in Sha Tin, Yoho Mall, Tsim Sha Tsui's Harbour City, and Causeway Bay. HKFP has contacted Opatra London for comment.