Macau’s Unitary Police Service (SPU) announced yesterday in a statement that in its crime prevention operation carried out in the runup to and during the Chinese New Year (CNY) from January 22 to February 18, Macau’s various law enforcement forces, comprising the Macau Customs Service (SA), Judiciary Police (PJ) and Public Security Police (PSP), investigated 24,302 people, took in 1,288 for further questioning, with 349 suspects transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for further investigation.
Of the 1,288 people taken to a police station for questioning, 271 were found to be involved in illegal currency exchange deals, 35 in loan sharking, 72 in fraud, 45 in theft, and 14 in prostitution and pimping, the statement noted.
The statement said that during the operation, 664 non-residents were deported from Macau for engaging in illegal activities, with 14 of them having been the target of an interception or detention order, and three of whom were sent to prison right away.
The statement said the operation effectively guaranteed the smooth holding of major festival activities during CNY, and achieved its goal of preventing and clamping down on crime, maintaining the city’s security and order, and deterring different kinds of illegal activities.
With a significant increase in the number of people expected to be travelling in and out of Macau this year compared to previous years, the Unitary Police Service will continue to pay close attention to criminal activities in order to maintain public order and public security, the statement said.
This undated handout photo provided by the Unitary Police Service (SPU) shows police officers conducting their joint CNY crime prevention operation outside a karaoke bar in Nape.
