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FUZHOU'S STORY |
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Fuzhou "snakeheads advertise publicly to recruit "overseas labourers" |
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"SNAKEHEAD" and "HUMAN SNAKE" are terms used by Chinese for several decades to describe smugglers (snakeheads) and people who are smuggled (human snake). |
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"Overseas labourers wanted" is the slogan they used to recruit Fujianese who wished to leave China. Human smuggling is a very organized and prosperous activity in Fujian, the snakeheads often advertise publicly in the city. Some of the snakeheadseven post up billboards saying they need workers to work in an overseas factory; the message is rather obvious for those dreadfully wanting to leave the country. One sneakhead revealed to a local journalist that stowaways are not limited to Fujian, they came from all over China. He said besides Fuzhou, Chang-lo City is closest to Taiwan from the China coast, which made it the second hottest spot for snake-boats. The China smuggling gangs collaborate with the Taiwan gangs in their ventures; the Taiwangang would get the snake boat ready in the open sea between Chang-lo and Taiwan. Then the Chinese gang would get their stowaways into small boats and transport them onto the snake-boat. The snakehead said these spots (Chang-lo, Fuzhou) are the starting points for all destinations, no matter if it is Japan or North America. |
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The snakehead said all money is paid up front before anybody could see the ship. If the launch fails, all money would be refunded in full. If the stowaways are caught by police, the snakehead would bribe the police to release them. He said food and lodging are included in the price, but they are welcome to bring whatever they need. All "human-snakes" carry on them an address card of their relatives, for those unable to pay in full when boarding, the snakehead's organization would contact their relatives once they reached their destination. In case the relatives refused payment, the human-snakes would be sold to labour camps, and as for young women, they would be sold to the prostitution rings until the full amount is paid, maybe years later. |
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A senior Canadian detective who wishes his identity remained concealed said the Fujian community is very powerful in New York and Boston. They work closely with the Fujian smuggling gang in China; that is why most of the human-snakes are from Fujian. He said the currant price is US $ 30,000 to US $ 50,000 per head depending on how complicated the route is. Those human-snakes who landed in Canada would eventually skip over to the States. He also said the human-snakes landed B.C. recently would go to the east coast where there are more Fujian people, and they could find under-ground work in the black market through the powerful connection of the Fujian gang, for there is nothing for them in west coast. |
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George Varnai, assistant manager of B.C. and Yukon Imigration said, according to the latest information from the US Immigration and naturalization department, although New York is the hottest spot for the Fujian human-snakes, there is indication that they are spreding into small counties. Lately, some US immigration officers claimed that they have spotted human-snakes in certain remote inland towns, but US immigration bureau chief Irene Mortonsen denied this. |
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E-MAIL |
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