The people trade

People — smuggling networks adjust quickly to such changes. In Fujian, one family’s 18 years old son left home in April. Jin Xicai (not his real name) wanted something more then this job repairing mobile phones in Fujian. The family couldn’t afford to send him to the Unites States, so it settled for the less costly trip to Britain. On April 3, Jin hopped a train to Beijing, joining other would-be emigrants in the capital. Snaakeheads had promised him a plane ride to Europe, but instead Jin was hustled onto a train for the week — long trans — Siberian trek to Moscow. He crossed the China — Russia border using a genuine Chinese passport. It had been procured on the black market; the original photograph had been carefully razored off and replaced by a photo of Jin.

When Jin phoned home from Moscow; he said he was being held under armed guard. Snakeheads had confiscated his documents, luggage and spare clothes to prevent him from escaping. His next phone call came from somewhere in the Czech Republic. To get there he had apparently travelled by train, truck, even a horse — drawn cart. Then came a few more phone calls — from Germany and, finally, Holland.

Jin’s phone calls point to a well — traveled route from Fujian to Europe (map). Moscow is a forever transit point because of relaxed visa requirements for Chinese citizens. At any given time there are said to be more than 200 000 Chinese in Moscow en route to other countries. Belgrade is another favourite, for the same reason. Serbian press reports say that 40 000 Chinese have settled in Yugoslavia since 1995. From Belgrade it’s easy to slip into Western Europe via Bosnia’s porous frontiers.



Теги: chinese, britain, immigrants