“Dr. Li” Stopped Mid-Extraction: Unregistered Dentist Sentenced After Secret Clinic Raid
By Lions Roar Aotearoa Investigative Desk
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND (Wednesday, January 28, 2026) — In a scene described as both shocking and dangerous, an unregistered dentist has been sentenced in the Auckland District Court after police and health officials raided his makeshift home clinic while he was in the middle of extracting a patient’s tooth.
Chenglin Li, 70, was sentenced today to three months’ community detention and ordered to pay a staggering $45,500 fine. The sentencing follows a covert investigation that exposed a sophisticated, illegal dental operation catering to hundreds of patients in East Auckland.
🕵️ The Sting: “Yes, this is Dr. Li speaking”
The investigation was sparked in October 2023 following a complaint from the Dental Council. A Ministry of Health official went undercover, posing as a patient with a toothache.
- The Call: Li answered the phone identifying himself as “Dr. Li” and offered an immediate appointment.
- The Visit: Undercover officials visited the clinic and saw Li working on patients in a domestic setting.
- The Raid: On May 15, authorities stormed the property. Li was forced to stop an extraction halfway through. A registered dentist accompanying the raid had to step in and finish the procedure for the patient.
⚠️ Hygiene Horrors and Illegal X-Rays
Court documents revealed a “sophisticated” setup that bypassed all New Zealand health and safety regulations.
- Dirty Equipment: Investigators found a bin filled with used needles and extracted human teeth.
- Dangerous Drugs: Li possessed prescription medicines—including local anaesthetics and antibiotics—mailed from China. Some of these carry severe risks of interfering with cancer or heart medications.
- Handheld X-Rays: Li used a “Runyes Ray 98” handheld X-ray machine, which retails online for around $4,200, without any radiation safety licensing.
📈 By the Numbers: Li’s Illegal Practice
| Statistic | Detail |
| Total Appointments | 325 (recorded in nine notebooks) |
| Active Period | September 2022 to May 2024 |
| Patient Volume | Approx. 20 patients per week |
| Typical Cost | ~$250 for an extraction (referred to as “cheap dental services”) |
| Legal Status | Registered in China; Unregistered in New Zealand |
⚖️ “Planning and Premeditation”
Judge Kevin Glubb noted the premeditated nature of the offending, pointing out that Li had established a practice purely through word-of-mouth within the local Chinese community.
Li’s lawyer argued that his client was a registered dentist in China, but Judge Glubb remained firm: “You cannot practise as a dentist moving forward without appropriate qualification.”
