Hong Kong and Mainland Customs smashed a syndicate engaged in cross-boundary smuggling of high-priced commodities into the Mainland.
The syndicate made use of an opening measuring approximately 1m x 1m on the meshed fence at the frontier closed area on the Hong Kong side to smuggle goods.
In the operation on May 6 (Sunday), Hong Kong Customs arrested three men and three women, aged between 36 and 58. They seized 9,300 mobile phones, 5,700 kilograms of American ginseng, 15,730 micro LCDs, two sets of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) decoding machine, a light goods vehicle and several sets of computer, with total seizure value of up to $33 million.
The Commissioner of Hong Kong Customs and Excise, Mr Timothy Tong, today (May 8) said "This joint operation conducted with the Anti-Smuggling Bureau (ASB) of General Administration of Customs of the nation and the ASB of Shenzhen Customs, just a few days before the Pan-PRD Customs Forum, marks the success of the crackdown on syndicated cross-boundary smuggling activities through intelligence exchange and cooperation."
The "Pan-PRD Customs Trade Facilitation Forum cum Regional Customs Commissioners Joint Conference", to be held in Hong Kong on May 10 and 11, will strengthen the mode of cross-regional, multi-dimensional law enforcement and the customs clearance network in the Pan-PRD Region.
The Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Tam Yiu-keung, today rounded up the operation at a press conference.
Early this year, both Customs suspected that there was a syndicate active in smuggling mobile phones and electrical goods to Mainland in the vicinity of the frontier closed area between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Under the coordination of General Administration of Customs, vigilant surveillance was conducted bilaterally near the boundary.
Intensive investigation by Intelligence Bureau of Hong Kong Customs revealed that the syndicate attempted to cheat on Mainland export tax refund by exporting massive quantities of mobile phones out of the Mainland and smuggling them back from Hong Kong. As follow-up investigation, both sides mounted surveillance at target persons and locations.
In a joint operation conducted on May 6 (Sunday), investigators from Control Points Command of Hong Kong Customs laid ambush and mounted surveillance at the frontier closed area at Chang Ling Cun, Lin Ma Hang.
About 2am, they spotted the target persons attempting to smuggle large quantity of mobile phones to Mainland through an opening measuring approximately 1m x 1m on the meshed fence at the frontier closed area.
Two Hong Kong men, aged 45 and 55 respectively, suspected of transporting mobile phones were arrested on spot. In addition, 3,455 mobile phones and a light goods vehicle were seized.
At the same time, another team of Hong Kong Customs investigators raided the syndicate's storage centre in Fanling, seizing 5,845 mobile phones, 5,700 kg American ginseng and 15,730 micro LCDs.
A man and three women, aged between 36 and 58, were arrested. They included a 58-year-old woman suspected to be a syndicate core member, and three two-way permit holders. Customs believed that the three Mainlanders were hired for packaging the smuggled goods in the storage centre.
Hong Kong Customs investigation showed that the seized American ginseng was imported directly from US and repackaged in nylon bags for smuggling into Mainland by land or sea.
During initial on-site examination, the computers seized were found to be installed with software for decoding International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. Customs believed that the syndicate attempted to dispel suspicion from Mainland Customs when reapplying for export tax refund for the mobile phones when they were smuggled back to Mainland.
The computers and accessories have been passed to Computer Forensic Laboratory of Hong Kong Customs for further examination.
Concurrently, Mainland enforcement agencies including Mainland Customs and Shenzhen Frontier Police conducted enforcement action against the syndicate, leading to the arrest of a 37- year-old man in Shenzhen suspected to be one of the masterminds. They also seized at the crime scene 1,471 mobile phones of same model and a batch of smuggling paraphernalia.
The success of the joint operation demonstrated the close cooperation between Hong Kong and Mainland Customs in combating cross-boundary smuggling. To clamp down on the illegal activities, both sides will continue to exchange information, conduct intelligence analysis and mount well-planned parallel operations.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, anyone found guilty of exporting unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $2 million and an imprisonment for seven years. The smuggled goods and vehicles involved are liable to forfeiture.
Ends/Tuesday, May 8, 2007
