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4 more named in human smuggling
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Posted on May 07 1999
The US federal court yesterday indicted four Chinese nationals on four counts each of alleged human smuggling of some 141 illegal immigrants from China, joining two others who are now facing a grand jury on similar charges.
According to lawyer Kevin Seely of the US Attorney’s Office, Jing Xiao Zhan (a.k.a. Zun Jin Xiao), Jian Zhi Ruan, Qing Mo Wang and Zhen Qing Wang were named together with Hua Jin Lin and Shan Hua Huang, who were earlier indicted in the court on Saipan.
The six are believed to have led the attempts to bring a boat load of Chinese without legal documents to enter the US territory. These 141 undocumented aliens are now staying at a temporary shelter on Tinian.
Arriving at the San Jose Harbor last April 17, they represented the first batch of illegal immigrants who were caught by US Coast Guard in international waters believed to be heading for Guam.
According to the lawsuits, the suspects reportedly traveled from Putian, China and met the 141 Chinese in Ningbo. They then sailed from the coast of Fujian to Guam aboard a flagless fishing boat where they were intercepted by the Coast Guard.
They were ordered arrested on felony charges of conspiracy to commit offense against the US, attempted alien smuggling for financial gain, attempted alien smuggling to a place other than at designated port, and encouraging and inducing aliens to the US.
Nearly 500 undocumented immigrants from China are now housed in a “tent city” on Tinian, awaiting decision by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service as to when they will be repatriated.
