Macao’s law enforcement agencies have chalked up a series of victories after an extensive five-month crackdown on cross-border crime and other illegal activities.
The Unitary Police Service (SPU) said that during Operation Thunderbolt 2022, jointly carried out in two phases, from 20 May to 4 July and from 13-30 September by the Customs Service, Judiciary Police and Public Security Police, 52,056 people were investigated and 1,799 taken in for further questioning, while 370 criminal cases were recorded.
The SPU noted that the lengthy list includes 23 drug cases, four usury cases, six cases of aiding and abetting human smuggling, and 47 fraud cases, of which 12 involved illegal currency exchange cases, four money laundering cases and one case of controlling prostitutes. Four cases involved criminal organisations.
Police pointed out that 467 people were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office, 226 of whom have meanwhile been sentenced or fined, while 35 suspects have been remanded in custody.
During the operation, 668 non-residents were deported for engaging in illegal activities, such as overstaying or involvement in illegal currency exchange activities; 30 of the arrestees were targets of an interception or detention order, three of whom were immediately sent to jail.
Officers said that thanks to the joint efforts of the police in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, the operation achieved its goal of clamping down on cross-border crime and deterring various illegal activities.
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the local economy and people’s livelihoods, the Unitary Police Service said it will continue to pay close attention to criminal activities and strengthen liaison between Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong, in order to maintain public order and public security, The Macau Post Daily reported.
