Mother of Chinese Tycoon Behind Saipan Casino Detained by US ICE

Cui Lijie, a Chinese national and a key figure behind a controversial luxury casino project on the US Pacific island of Saipan, has been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on suspicion of violating immigration regulations, according to media reports.

The 68-year-old was taken into custody on January 13 local time by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations unit and is currently being held at a correctional facility in Susupe village. US authorities have not disclosed details of the alleged violations.

Cui is the mother of Ji Xiaobo, a businessman formerly active in the gaming industry, and the "mother-in-law" of actress Pace Wu, who shares four children with Ji. There is no official public record or report confirming that Pace Wu and Ji Xiaobo are legally married.

On November 24, 2023, a notice released by the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court revealed that a criminal syndicate, led by Ji Xiaobo, had been dismantled by the public. Ji's aunt, Cui Limei, as a principal member of the gang, was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison and fined 200,000 yuan (US$28,700). Ji Xiaobo will be dealt with in a separate case, and it remains unknown whether he has been apprehended.

Long based in Hong Kong, Cui Lijie was a major shareholder of Imperial Pacific International Holdings Ltd. The company entered the Saipan market in July 2014 after securing an exclusive license from the local lottery commission to develop and operate an integrated resort casino. In August 2015, Cui Lijie increased her stake by 100 million shares, raising her ownership to 64.37 percent and becoming the firm's largest shareholder. The company has since collapsed and entered bankruptcy proceedings.

Cui Lijie and her son initially built their fortunes in Macao's gaming junket sector before moving into casino operations. They invested about US$600 million in the Imperial Pacific Palace casino and an adjoining beachfront hotel project in Saipan.

The project was mired in controversy. A 2018 investigation alleged the casino illegally employed large numbers of Chinese nationals on tourist visas, violated workplace safety rules, and funneled millions of US dollars in bribes to local officials and their relatives.

The casino ceased operations in March 2020. In April 2024, Imperial Pacific filed for bankruptcy protection, reporting liabilities of roughly US$165.8 million.