Burst
Written by: Lu Jiayu and Huang Weimin
2021-05-07 18:59
Last update date: 2021-05-07 18:59
At the end of 2019, the Immigration Department carried out an operation codenamed "Tour Hunting", smashed the largest illegal worker forged ID card syndicate in the past five years, and arrested 27 people including 3 key Mainlanders and 16 illegal Mainland workers.
According to the Immigration Department, the group provides one-stop service for illegal workers in the Mainland, including training in Hong Kong, providing accommodation, and forging fake ID cards. After the group forged fake certificates at the workshops in the Mainland, the group puts it in the envelope as a regular mail courier. port.
The Immigration Department smashed the largest group of illegal workers forged ID cards in the past five years and arrested 27 people.
(Photo by Huang Weimin)
Assistant Chief Immigration Officer Liu Wing-ki said that the Immigration Department received a report in early October 2019 stating that it was found in the mailing documents of a cross-border courier company’s truck that it was found to contain a red red seal and wrapped 3 fake Hong Kong identity cards with tissues. After investigation and deployment, the Immigration Department has locked two shipping addresses in Sham Shui Po and North Point. In mid-October, personnel will be dispatched to disguise as couriers to deliver and monitor the items.
Liu Yongji said that the group had acted cautiously and repeatedly requested to change the delivery address, including suggesting to pick up the package at a fast food restaurant. He also temporarily requested to cancel the delivery, saying that it would pick it up at the store itself.
Immigration officers carried out surprise operations to search 21 addresses, including 13 residential addresses and 8 illegal workplaces. Among them, several overstayers were arrested in Sham Shui Po and North Point 2 addresses, and 13 forged identity cards were seized, and 27 were found on mobile phones. An image or a copy of a forged ID card, as well as cell phone messages about illegal work and remuneration.
In the operation, 12 men and 15 women aged between 30 and 71 were arrested. Among them, 19 mainlanders included 3 key members of the group and 16 illegal workers. The other 8 Hong Kongers included 2 employers and persons involved in the transfer of identity card information.
Among them, one female key member was sentenced to 16 months and 15 months in prison for conspiracy to forge false documents, possess forged documents, forged Hong Kong ID cards and violated the conditions of stay. The other two male key members were previously convicted of collusion. Conspiracy to forge, possess forged Hong Kong identity card and breach of conditions of stay was sentenced to 32 months.
In addition, 24 people were arrested, and 17 of them were sentenced to a maximum of 15 months in prison for conspiracy to use and possess forged Hong Kong identity cards and violation of conditions of stay.
Liu Yongji pointed out that the group has operated for about half a year and recruited illegal workers through mobile apps. Each person charged 18,000 yuan as an introduction fee. After arriving in Hong Kong, half of the fee would be paid. When the job was found, the balance would be paid, and another 1,500 yuan would be charged each month. The accommodation fee mainly arranges them as dormitories in tenements with cheap rents, and the income involved is about 800,000 yuan.
In addition, the group sent the photos and personal data of the black workers back to the forgery workshops in the Mainland, and then sent them to Hong Kong expressly after forging the fake certificates.
The group will also seek jobs for mainlanders based on their backgrounds, including dishwashing, kitchen, laundry handyman, etc., and will also train them in Cantonese and fabricate fake resumes.
The case is also the first time that the Immigration Department has discovered that a courier company used to deliver false certificates. Liu Yongji pointed out that in the past, forgery groups used to send the false certificates to Hong Kong in person. The quality of the false certificates in the case was poor. For example, the public compared the new generation of smart ID cards It has to be easy to distinguish the authenticity.
In addition, it was found in this case that the sender of the fake certificate mail was the same mainland resident, and the prescription has also sent the information to the mainland law enforcement agency for investigation.
Liu Yongji said that anyone who uses or possesses a forged Hong Kong resident identity card can be fined up to 100,000 and sentenced to 10 years in jail upon conviction. In addition, passengers are not allowed to engage in any work without permission, and offenders can be fined 50,000 and imprisoned for 2 years.
Liu Yongji urged employers not to hire illegal employees. Once convicted, they can be imprisoned for 3 years and fined 350,000. If you have any doubts about recruitment, you can contact the Immigration Department.
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