Hong Kong Customs detected a gold smuggling case for the first time this year and seized 20 pieces of suspected smuggled gold weighing about 20 kilograms in total with an estimated market value of about $10 million at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on September 3.
Customs officers intercepted an incoming lorry at Lok Ma Chau Control Point for inspection in the afternoon on that day and seized the batch of suspected smuggled gold in the driving compartment of the lorry. The 37-year-old male driver was arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against cross-boundary smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, September 8, 2020
