The Macau Customs Service (SA) nabbed a total of nine people involved in two people-smuggling cases during a special crime prevention operation carried out during the Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday, according to an SA statement yesterday.
Customs officers strengthened security measures during the Chinese New Year holiday, applying scientific and technological equipment such as intelligent maritime surveillance systems and infrared night vision cameras to conduct round-the-clock surveillance of areas at high risk of illegal activities, according to the statement.
Among the nine suspects, four of whom have been handed to the Judiciary Police (PJ) for further investigation – three men assisting in people-smuggling and another man who had previously been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and has now been transferred to the Macau Correctional Services Bureau (DSC) for follow-up action, the statement said.
The first people-smuggling case occurred last Monday, when customs officers noticed a suspicious sampan sailing off Taipa at the end of the Macau-Taipa Sai Van Bridge at night. Customs officers intercepted three people on the sampan. The male skipper is suspected of people-smuggling, while the boat’s two passengers, a male and a female, are suspected of trying to illegally enter Macau, the statement said.
The three suspects involved in the case are aged between 42 and 49, the statement said.
The second case occurred in the early morning of last Thursday, where customs officers noticed a suspicious speedboat approaching the seashore off Ká Hó in Coloane. Customs officers picked up two males and a female on the shore, and intercepted the speedboat off Hac Sa Beach. Another three men suspected of aiding and abetting were also caught at the scene, the statement said.
The six suspects involved in the second case are aged between 27 and 54, the statement said.
The statement urged members of the public to report suspected illegal border-crossing activities by contacting the Macau Customs Service by phone on 2896 5001, fax 289 65003, or email info@customs.gov.mo.
Macau Customs Service (SA) officers watch three males suspected of illegally entering Macau last Thursday at Hac Sa Beach in Coloane. The handout photo provided by the Customs Service blurred the suspects’ faces.
