Hong Kong Customs officers seized a batch of unmanifested freshwater fishes from a Mainland fishing vessel from Zhuhai at the pier of Chek Lap Kok early this morning (February 25).
At about 0.40am, Customs officers intercepted the vessel and seized 4,200 kilograms of unmanifested freshwater fish, namely, freshwater grouper, goldfish carp, freshwater bream, totally worth about $140,000. The fish consignment did not bear valid health certificate from the Mainland authority.
Two male Mainlanders, including a responsible person and a crewmen, aged 37 and 43, were arrested. They will later be charged under "Import and Export Ordinance".
Customs has notified Food and Environmental Hygiene Department about this case.
Divisional Commander (Marine Enforcement Division), Mr Lam Chi-keung said, "Hong Kong Customs has stepped up enforcement and tightened inspection of vessels coming in and leaving Hong Kong waters. The seizure of unmanifested freshwater fish in this case is concrete evidence of the success of Customs enforcement actions," he said.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of "attempting to export unmanifested cargo" or "making use of an altered structure of any vessel for the purpose of smuggling" is liable on conviction to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Sunday, February 25, 2007
