HK businesswoman Cui Lijie arrested at Saipan airport over alleged US immigration violations

Hong Kong permanent resident and businesswoman Cui Lijie, a major shareholder of Imperial Pacific International, was arrested at Saipan airport on Tuesday morning by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, according to local media in the US Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The 68-year-old mother of Macau-based investor Ji Xiaobo is alleged to have violated US immigration law. She is being held awaiting a hearing next week.

Anthony Torres, the corrections commissioner, confirmed her detention. Foreign investors in the Northern Mariana Islands must hold a valid E-2C long-term investor visa. It is speculated her arrest is related to a possible lapse in her residency status or investment visa.

Cui and her son once aimed to build a casino empire in Saipan, reportedly investing up to US$2 billion. Their casino operated for about four years but closed in March 2020 during the pandemic. US media reported last year the half-built project was abandoned and involved federal investigations and lawsuits, though a new investor pledged to complete it last August.

Imperial Pacific International was delisted from the Hong Kong exchange in June 2024.