Text: U.S. Consulate General Klosson Release on "Sister Ping" Arrest
(Says human smugglers "profit from the misery of others")U.S. Consul General Michael Klosson issued a press release April 19 in Hong Kong expressing gratitude toward Hong Kong law enforcement authorities for their cooperation in the investigation and arrest of illegal-immigration ringleader Cheng Chui Ping, also known as "Sister Ping."
Ping was arrested in Hong Kong April 17 and will be charged with masterminding the illegal immigration "Golden Venture" affair in 1993, in which a freighter carrying nearly 300 illegal immigrants from Fujian Province ran aground in New York, leading to the death of 10 passengers.
She also stands accused of other crimes in the United States, including taking Chinese illegal immigrants hostage once they arrived in the United States until ransoms were paid.
Klosson said organized criminals like Ping "prey on people and seek to profit from the misery of others."
"The arrest of Cheng Chui Ping after several years of diligent detective work demonstrates once again our common determination to bring to justice those who engage in the reprehensible and deadly practice of human smuggling," Klosson concluded.
Following is the text of the news release:
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NEWS RELEASE
APRIL 19, 2000Statement by U.S. Consul General Michael Klosson
on the Arrest in Hong Kong of Cheng Chui PingI wish to express warm thanks to Hong Kong law enforcement authorities for their long perseverance and cooperation in the investigation and arrest April 17 of Cheng Chui Ping, also known as "Sister Ping." This marks the second arrest in Hong Kong of alleged instigators of the 1993 "Golden Venture" tragedy.
According to U.S. law enforcement authorities, Cheng Chui Ping was one of the masterminds of the June, 1993, "Golden Venture" incident, in which a freighter carrying nearly 300 illegal immigrants from Fujian Province ran aground in New York, leading to the drowning of ten passengers. In August, 1993, Hong Kong authorities arrested and turned over to U.S. custody another Golden Venture ringleader, Guo Liang Chi, also known as "Ah Kay." Guo was sentenced in 1998 to 20 years in jail and fined US$200,000 for organizing a criminal conspiracy.
Cheng Chui Ping is also charged in the United States with crimes related to several other cases over a period of years, including taking Chinese illegal immigrants hostage once they arrived in the United States until ransoms were paid.
The law enforcement relationship between the United States and Hong Kong is one of the most productive in the world. Both societies respect the rule of law, and both recognize that sustained, energetic law enforcement cooperation is necessary to stem the activities of organized criminal elements who prey on people and seek to profit from the misery of others. The arrest of Cheng Chui Ping after several years of diligent detective work demonstrates once again our common determination to bring to justice those who engage in the reprehensible and deadly practice of human smuggling.
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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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