17 detained with fake African visas for gold dig
- Source: Global Times
- [08:51 March 25 2011]
- Comments
Airport border inspectors caught 17 men on March 20 who were attempting to use fake visas to go to Africa to dig for gold.
It is the largest illegal exit and entry case the inspectors have cracked in the past two years, according to the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection Wednesday.
The 17 suspects, aged between 23 and 47, all came from the same county in an unnamed southern province, according to the frontier inspection.
A middleman collected 15,000 to 18,000 yuan ($2,285.61 to 2,742.73) from each of the 17 men, and arranged their plane tickets, passports and fake visas for an African country that police would not specify.
The gang took a train to Beijing on March 19 and intended to board their flight on a Middle-Eastern airline early the next day, but were busted at the airport frontier inspection.
Gold mining is a traditional industry in the men's home region, but as the number of local gold mines are dwindling, more and more young people have decided to dig gold overseas.
Close to 1,000 people have gone to African countries to dig gold in the past few years, according to the frontier inspection.
However, it's difficult to find work overseas through legal agencies, so many turn to illegal channels.
The case has been handed over to the local police for investigation.
Anyone who attempts to exit the border illegally could be sentenced to a maximum one year in prison with fine; anyone who fakes documents for the purpose of exporting labor could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years with fine, according to the law.
Global Times
