Mainland man gets 4 months for using underwater scooter in Macau smuggling attempt

A 36-year-old mainland Chinese man has been sentenced to four months in prison after attempting to illegally enter Macau using an underwater propulsion device, according to local customs authorities.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, August 27, after Macau Customs received a notification from Zhuhai authorities that a suspicious individual had been spotted swimming toward the waters off Avenida Marginal Flor De Lótus, raising suspicions of an illegal entry attempt.

Macau Customs promptly deployed its maritime intelligence surveillance system to track the individual.

Patrol boats, on-ground officers, and a drone unit were mobilized to intercept the swimmer. The man was apprehended at the scene along with the underwater scooter he used in the attempt.

The suspect, identified as a 36-year-old mainland resident, was already under a ban prohibiting his entry into Macau. He was arrested on charges of “unlawful entry outside immigration control” and transferred to judicial authorities for processing.

Following a court hearing, the man was sentenced to four months' imprisonment. He has been transferred to Coloane Prison to begin serving his sentence immediately.