The Customs and Excise Department and the Marine Police yesterday (September 24) jointly conducted an anti-smuggling operation in Lau Fau Shan and smashed a speedboat smuggling case. In the operation, a total of 1,170 kilograms of geoduck with a total value of about $410,000 and a high-powered speedboat were seized.
At about 11pm last night, Customs officers of the Marine Enforcement Group together with Marine Police officers of the Small Boat Division and the Marine West Division, while conducting an anti-smuggling patrol in Lau Fau Shan, found four men conveying some carton boxes by trolley to the Lau Fau Shan Pier and loading them onto two high-powered speedboats berthed there. Officers took action and seized the batch of goods at scene.
The four suspects immediately fled with the speedboats and a Police launch gave chase to them. One of the speedboats left Hong Kong waters towards Shekou in the Mainland while the suspects on another speedboat jumped overboard and fled after the speedboat ran aground in the shallow water of Lau Fau Shan.
Subsequently, the officers seized one speedboat and 45 cartons of geoduck at scene. No arrests were made in the operation.
A Customs spokesman said today (September 25) that the department will continue to take stringent enforcement action with the Marine Police to combat sea smuggling activities.
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.
Ends/Tuesday, September 25 2012
