Man arrested for smuggling mainlanders back from HK

Shenzhen authorities on Tuesday said a man has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling four mainland people from Hong Kong back to north of the border.

Prosecution said the 36-year-old man, surnamed Chen, climbed through wire fences and arrived at Ta Ku Ling in Hong Kong on February 10, before he brought four people back to Shenzhen at the request of a female trafficker in the SAR.

According to the Shenzhen Luohu District People’s Procuratorate, Chen and three of them were intercepted by police in Liantang, while the remaining suspect was also caught the next day.

Authorities said investigation showed that the four people Chen brought along had allegedly worked illegally in the SAR, and decided to return to the mainland due to the pandemic situation in Hong Kong.

Two of them tested positive for Covid-19 after they were caught.

It said Chen had admitted to the allegations against him.

Authorities noted that, if convicted, Chen may be given a custodial sentence for allegedly organising others to cross the border.