Two mainland men were caught red-handed on Saturday night for their involvement in Macau-bound people smuggling by boat at Hac Sa Beach, according to a statement by the Macau Customs Service (SA) yesterday.
The two arrestees, aged 20 and 30, include the suspected “snakehead”*, who is currently in custody for aiding and abetting illegal immigration. The other has been transferred to the Public Security Police (PSP) Immigration Department for deportation.
According to the statement, in the evening of March 8, customs officers monitored through their intelligent maritime surveillance system and infrared night-vision cameras a suspicious vessel sailing on an unusual course in coastal waters off Hac Sa Beach, believing to be engaged in an illegal immigration activity.
The vessel and its male skipper were subsequently intercepted by customs officers from the speedboat patrol team, while the male illegal immigrant was arrested near the barbecue pits at Hac Sa Beach.
2 fishing vessels sink in Fai Chi Kei, govt says ‘no abnormality found’
Meanwhile, the Macau Customs Service has seized two fishing vessels anchored off Fai Chi Kei’s Fai Fu social rental housing estate. In reply to public broadcaster TDM’s enquiry, the Customs Service said that the wooden fishing boats sank one after another, but it had immediately taken on-site action to prevent other vessels from colliding with them, while notifying the Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) to follow up on the matter.
In response to concerns raised by a member of the public about potential fuel spillage from the two vessels and its impact on health, the Marine and Water Bureau was quoted by TDM as emphasising that facilities such as grease traps and double-layered absorbent strips have been set up at the scene to prevent pollution of the sea surface, adding that “so far, no obvious fuel spillage has been observed”.
The Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) also stressed, according to TDM, that no fuel pollution or dead fish had been found on the sea surface, nor has there been any abnormality in the water quality testing data recently.
*In the context of people smuggling, a “snakehead” refers to a leader or organiser within a human smuggling network. The term originates from organised crime and is often used to describe individuals or groups who facilitate illegal immigration, usually for profit.
“Snakeheads” are known for arranging transportation, forged documents, and other logistics to help people cross borders illegally. They often charge high fees for their services, and the journeys they organise can be extremely dangerous, sometimes resulting in exploitation, abuse, or even death for the migrants.– DeepSeek
This handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Service (SA) yesterday shows two custom officers holding the illegal immigrant at Hac Sa Beach on Saturday night.
