Billionaire mother of Hong Kong 'casino tycoon' arrested by ICE at US airport

Hong Kong permanent resident and businesswoman Cui Lijie has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, reported Hong Kong media.

According to The Standard, the 68-year-old billionaire was arrested on Jan. 13 at Saipan airport over alleged immigration violations.

Her detention was confirmed by corrections commissioner Anthony Torres, and speculations arose that her arrest was related to a lapse in her residency status or investment visa in Saipan where she resides.

The Northern Mariana island in the Pacific Ocean is a territory of the U.S.

Foreign investors must hold a valid E-2C long-term investor visa, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Cui is being held, and is awaiting a hearing next week.

She is a major shareholder of Imperial Pacific International, a Chinese investment holding company.

She is also the mother of Macau-based investor and casino tycoon Ji Xiaobo, who is the boyfriend of Taiwanese actress and model Pace Wu.

Ji had previously opened a casino empire in Saipan valued at US$2 billion (S$2.6 billion), but it closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and allegedly raked up U.S. federal investigations and lawsuits.

Top images via The Standard