‘Winter Operation’ results in the detention of 13 fugitives

The joint annual “Winter Operation” of the security forces has found and detained 13 fugitives from justice, the Unitary Police Service (SPU) reported.

In this year’s operation, carried out between January 26 and February 26, almost 46,000 people were investigated, resulting in 1,046 detentions, 437 referrals to judicial authorities, and the initiation of 365 criminal proceedings.

Among the highlighted findings, the SPU noted 13 people listed as fugitives from justice with pending arrest warrants. Six of them have been sent to the prison facilities to fulfill their sentences, while others, wanted for crimes committed outside Macau, have been transferred to the mainland.

Among the most recurring crimes were theft, illegal currency exchange, loansharking, money laundering, drug trafficking, drug consumption, and bodily harm.

According to the proceedings, the detentions for investigation led the judge to impose coercive measures on 284 people, of whom 15 were remanded in custody.

According to the data compiled by SPU, the Public Security Police Force also handed out 586 expulsion orders from the territory, involving people in illegal residence or those who committed punishable offenses such as illegal work, prostitution, and other cases.

In the same operation last year, the forces investigated almost 42,000 people, resulting in 465 being forwarded to the judiciary, more than this year.

Also, last year, the operation resulted in the finding and detention of 18 people who were fugitives.

This year, the operation deployed 8,733 officers and 42 patrol boats.

At the cross-border level, the forces have initiated 361 administrative prosecutions for violations of the law regarding attempts to smuggle goods across the border.

Goods included fresh meat, fish, poultry, and eggs; health products; ginseng; alcoholic beverages; tobacco products; e-cigarette products; medicines; cosmetics; electronic products; toys and game consoles; precious metals; and endangered plant species.