Suspect pair in deadly smuggle chase caught

Two suspected smugglers were arrested in Guangdong province over the death of a Hong Kong female senior marine officer during an anti-smuggling operation this month.

Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department yesterday said mainland police and Guangdong coast guard arrested two suspects, both surnamed Deng, on October 1 and October 2.

The pair are believed to have been on the speedboat that rammed the Hong Kong marine police vessel, causing it to capsize on September 25 in Sha Chau, killing 37-year-old senior inspector Lam Yuen-yee and injuring three male officers.

Organized Crime and Triad Bureau superintendent Tony Ho Chun-tung said it has yet to be determined whether they will be handed over to Hong Kong for prosecution.

He said police will act according to relevant procedures and legislation and need to discuss the case with the Security Bureau and Department of Justice.

"At this point, we are doing whatever we can to assist in the whole investigation to make sure the whole group behind this incident will be identified and arrested," Ho said, adding more arrests could be made. The two suspects could be tried in the mainland as they were arrested there, and Hong Kong police said the crash took place in mainland waters about 300 to 500 meters away from Hong Kong's waters.

If they stand trial in the mainland for smuggling, they could be jailed for life, compared to seven years in jail and a HK$2 million fine if tried in Hong Kong. As for the murder charge, the pair could be sentenced to death, compared to a life term in the SAR.

On September 25, two Hong Kong marine police interceptors were chasing a speedboat suspected of smuggling tonnes of frozen meat.

Police said the speedboat was traveling at 40-50 knots in the western waters of Hong Kong - equivalent to some 70-plus kilometers an hour on land.

The two men on the speedboat ignored police warnings and fled at high speed before suddenly making a 90-degree turn and ramming Lam's police boat on the port.

"The collision left marks on the police vessel, including a big hole on the starboard rear engine. Railings on the port rear were also broken and a large area of the hull's bottom showed signs of a collision," Ho said.

Lam's body was found near the shore at Yi O on Lantau Island two days after she fell into the sea. An initial autopsy confirmed that Lam drowned to death.

The Guangdong operation earlier this month also saw six other cross-border smuggling suspects arrested.

Guangdong authorities said they are combating sea smuggling activities and that the number of speedboats has been significantly reduced at the Pearl River Estuary waters.

In Hong Kong, a joint operation - among police, customs and excise, food and environmental health, health and lands departments as well as the Government Flying Service - has been combating smuggling activities since late last month.

Officers have searched docks, shipyards, boats, cargo working areas at piers, warehouses and wholesale food markets. Police also set up barricades and intercepted trucks and checked their goods manifests.

Police searched a number of entertainment venues including bars, mahjong parlors and massage parlors to combat the income sources of triads. A total of 365 people were arrested, including 269 males and 96 females, aged between 22 and 56 years old.

sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com