Commission Against Corruption, Macao SAR

Yesterday evening (9 February) the CCAC arrested 1 customs sub-inspector and 9 customs officers at the Cargo Terminal of the Macau International Airport. The people involved have allegedly committed corruption and accepted illegal advantages under the pretence of receiving "lai see" (lucky money inside red packets). Two employees of a cargo company were also identified as suspects. During investigation, another customs sub-inspector surnamed 'Wong' was found to be a suspected key person in the case. The 13 people involved were suspected of abuse of power, corruption and organized crime. The case was transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office today (10 February).

Yesterday (9 February) the CCAC received a complaint indicating that certain Customs Service staff stationed at the Cargo Terminal had demanded a cargo company to pay each of the 36 customs officers stationed at the Macau International Airport a red packet of MOP500, which was to be delivered to the Cargo Terminal that evening.

Upon receiving the red packets, the customs sub-inspector surnamed 'Chang' and the other customs officers were caught red-handed by the CCAC investigators. The 36 red packets, each with MOP100, were found on the spot. During investigation, it was found that in the Customs office at the Cargo Terminal there were a lot of red packets divided into 18 portions, which were allegedly prepared for distribution. Furthermore, some red packets of similar type and corresponding amount of cash were seized from a number of the customs officers caught on the spot. Marked on some of the red packets were the position of certain customs officers and the chop of a cargo company, which were allegedly used as identifiers. Two employees of a cargo company were suspected of bribing customs officers and were classified as suspects in the case.

During the overnight investigation, the CCAC identified a customs sub-inspector surnamed 'Wong' as a suspected key person in the case. The possibility that other malpractices were involved is not excluded.

Meanwhile, the CCAC also obtained a batch of documents. Someone had allegedly recorded some information of the contact persons of cargo companies in an organized way. Some of the documents showed that for each sum of money paid to the customs there was an account ledger recording its nature and purpose. Investigation revealed that certain customs officers were suspected of exploiting the need of express delivery companies and cargo companies for speed and efficiency passing through customs by demanding food and beverage from employees of those companies at the Cargo Terminal.

During investigation, someone confessed to having given red packets and other advantages to the Customs Service staff and someone confessed to having received red packets.

The CCAC will carry out further investigation to see if other illegal activities were involved.