Police conduct joint operation to tackle cross-border crime

Macau’s Unitary Police Service carried out late-night inspections in casinos and entertainment venues between Friday night and the early hours of Saturday morning, as part of a joint mission simultaneously held in Hong Kong and Guangdong to crack down on cross-border organized crime.
Authorities dispatched a total of 230 police officers and six police dog squads for the operation, where they stopped and searched 1,617 people. Of these, 124  were taken to the police station for further investigation; amongst these, 22 people of Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino nationalities were found guilty of overstaying and illegal entry.
The Assistant to the Commissioner General of the Unitary Police Service, João Augusto da Rosa, stated before the operation that its purpose is to “purify the public security environment” through a joint effort. “By conducting this joint operation, we are confident that we are contributing to the improvement of public safety and security in all three regions,” he said, adding that the operation will run over the course of three months.
The Unitary Police Service stressed in a press release that it would pay close attention to the security situation and reinforce police cooperation and the exchange of information among the three territories.
According to the People’s Daily, the mission, titled “Thunder 15,” focuses on ten key targets, including triad crimes; illicit trafficking or possession of firearms; cross-border illegal gambling, prostitution, human and drug trafficking; usury and crimes generated by gambling debt recovery; as well as interstate hiding of fugitives.  BY