A female local casino PR employee and a man from the mainland have been arrested for smuggling three people out of Macau and aiding and abetting illegal immigration, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chan Wun Man said at a special press conference yesterday.
The 38-year-old woman is surnamed Chan, while the mainlander is a 46-year-old farmer surnamed Wu. The three illegal immigrants are Jiang, aged 35, a mainland construction worker who was banned from leaving the mainland due to debt-related issues; Rong, aged 38, a jobless male and repeat offender of illegal re-entry; and Tang, aged 59, a jobless Hong Kong resident who was banned from entering Macau due to a money laundering case.
According to the spokesman, the police recently received a tip-off that a people-smuggling gang would transport illegal immigrants out of Macau on Tuesday. PJ officers set up surveillance at Hac Sá Beach (“Black Sand”), and at 6 a.m. they observed the three illegal immigrants getting out of Chan’s car in the area. The three individuals hid while Chan drove away. Subsequently, when Wu arrived at the location, the police intercepted them. Later, Chan was apprehended at a flat in Taipa.
Under questioning, Wu confessed to aiding the illegal immigrants and receiving a total sum of 6,000 yuan (6,700 patacas) from the gang for his involvement. The three illegal immigrants told the police that they had paid the gang between 50,000 and 70,000 yuan. Chan told the police that she agreed to drive them as she had lent a total of 1.1 million yuan to Jiang at usurious interest rates.
Chan and Wu were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday. facing charges of aiding and abetting illegal immigrants, according to the spokesman. Wu also faces an organised crime charge, while Chan also faces a usury charge.
Evidence seized from the suspects such as phones and banknotes is displayed during yesterday’s special press conference at the Judiciary Police (PJ) headquarters.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the hooded mainland suspect from the PJ headquarters to a PJ vehicle yesterday.
– Photos: William Chan
