Mainland Chinese and Hong Kong authorities have jointly cracked down on a people-smuggling syndicate, investigating more than 200 suspects and raiding premises where identity cards were forged.
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The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which oversees mainland law enforcement agencies, said on Thursday that authorities in Guigang city in Guangxi province had uncovered a criminal syndicate that was smuggling people into Hong Kong for illegal work last May.
The case was passed to the National Immigration Administration given its seriousness and adverse effects, it said.
The syndicate forged Hong Kong identity cards among other documents and organised for mainland residents to travel to the city as “tourists and work illegally”.
The commission said both mainland and Hong Kong authorities jointly investigated 201 suspects, raided three premises where counterfeit identity documents were produced and confiscated 12 pieces of equipment.
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Immigration authorities also investigated another criminal syndicate in Guangdong province in December 2023, the commission added. It organised the smuggling of foreigners on the mainland into Hong Kong.