A total of 200 people were deported from Macau between October 8 and November 3 this year, as part of the Thunderstorm 10 operation between Macau, Hong Kong and Guangdong counterparts, 63 more people than were deported in a similar operation conducted last year, assistant to Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Ma Io Kun said yesterday during a press conference.
Every year, Macau, Guangdong and Hong Kong take part in a tri-lateral security operation in order to strengthen cooperation and communication. It mainly focuses in cross-border organised crime, human trafficking, illegal gambling, exploitation of prostitution, drug trafficking and abuse and cybercrime.
Yesterday Ma told reporters that most of the 108 women and 92 men sent back home were from mainland China. However, he stressed that he had no more detailed information on that.
Compared to last year s operation, most of types of deportation have registered an increase.
According to the figures released by the Unitary Police, of the 200 deported, 67 were illegal immigrants (37 people more), 54 were working illegally (14 more), 22 did not meet tourist requirements (seven more) and 26 were expelled from the territory (an increase of 23 people). On the other hand, 31 had overstayed their visas, a decrease of 18 people.
Also between October 8 and November 3, six local residents from Macau were deported from the mainland and handed over to the Judicial Police after being found taking drugs. According to authorities, all of them had already been punished in the mainland.
The Thunderstorm 10 operation involved more than 3,300 police officers.
A total of 200 people were sent to the Prosecutions Office, less 40 compared to last year. Apart from that, 962 were brought to the police station for further investigation and 6,490 had their identification documents checked.
Of the 200 people referred to the prosecutors, they were mainly facing charges of drug abuse (19), employment of illegal workers (19); theft, mostly pick pocketing (18); illegal gambling (16) and housing illegal immigrants (14).
Compared to last year, there were a greater number of law enforcement actions and detainees, which is also a stronger disincentive factor. Regardless of the lower number of recorded crimes, we will continue to carry out preventive measures, Ma stressed.
