Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police yesterday (December 22) mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation and detected a suspected speedboat-related smuggling case in Sai Kung. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including electronic goods, cosmetics and apparels, with an estimated value of about $10 million was seized.
Law enforcement officers last night spotted several suspicious men loading suspected smuggled goods from a seven-seater private car to a speedboat at a seashore in Tai Mong Tsai. The officers then took action and the men jumped into the speedboat and fled.
During the operation, Customs detained the seven-seater vehicle suspected to be connected to the case. A batch of suspected smuggled goods in the case was seized from the vehicle and at the seashore, including electronic goods such as central processing units, smartphones and earphones.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs will continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities by proactive risk-management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times and maintaining close co-operation in its intelligence exchanges with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to land a solid blow against relevant activities.
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/Thursday, December 23, 2021
