Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police today (April 16) conducted a joint-operation and cracked down on a suspected case of smuggling by speedboats in Chek Lap Kok. A total of about 800 bottles of cough syrup and about 2 300 used mobile phones, valued at about $270,000 were seized. A seven-seater private car was also detained for investigation.
Customs officers and Marine Police mounted an anti-smuggling operation at Chek Lap Kok early this morning. Officers spotted some suspicious persons loading goods onto two speedboats at the seashore of the southern part of Chek Lap Kok. During enforcement action, those persons jumped onto the speedboats and fled. Seven cartons of cough syrup and seven cartons of used mobile phones were seized. A seven-seater private car was detained at scene. No one was arrested. The case is still under investigation.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person found guilty of possessing the poison included in Part I of the Poisons List without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat sea smuggling activities. Members of the public can report suspected smuggling activities to the Customs through the 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Saturday, April 16, 2016
