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Fourteen people were intercepted in connection to alleged document fraud and illegal migration activities in a joint operation by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, the National Police of France and the Royal Marechaussee of the Netherlands.
The simultaneous operation at Hong Kong International Airport, Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport began on Monday (January 12) and ended yesterday (January 15). A total of 28 target flights and more than 200 profiled passengers were spot-checked by the law enforcement agencies of the three jurisdictions. The 14 people were intercepted in Hong Kong and Amsterdam; and eight questionable passports and two questionable visas were found.
The joint operation codenamed "Snapshots" was aimed at interdicting suspicious travellers in transit in Hong Kong, Paris and Amsterdam for other countries in Europe and North America, gathering first-hand immigration intelligence on clandestine migration activities through on-the-field operation conducted at the three international airports and establishing sustainable tripartite contacts for operational and intelligence matters.
In the operation, two officers from France and three officers from the Netherlands were sent to Hong Kong International Airport and attached as observers and advisers on anti-illegal migration operations. Two Hong Kong immigration officers were sent to Paris and two to Amsterdam and attached to respective airport investigation units doing the same job.
"The success of the operation reflected the continued dedication of Hong Kong Immigration Department in joining forces with international law enforcement agencies to combat global illegal migration that involved the extensive use of document fraud." Assistant Director of Immigration, Enforcement and Litigation Branch Mr Eric Chan said.
The Consul-General of France Mr Jean-Pierre Thebault and the Consul-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Robert Schuddeboom complimented the successful operation and expressed their appreciation of the efforts of Hong Kong Immigration Department in combating illegal migration activities. The Consul-Generals agreed that the operation would further strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong, France and the Netherlands.
Ends/Friday, January 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 18:34
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