The Customs and Excise Department and the Marine Police today (January 9) smashed a speedboat smuggling case in a joint anti-smuggling operation in Ap Lei Chau, Aberdeen, and seized 480 computer hard disks with a total value of about $192,000.
At about 4am this morning, Customs officers of the Joint Anti-smuggling Task Force together with Marine Police officers of the Small Boat Division found several suspicious men unloading goods from a private car onto a high-powered speedboat at the pier of Lee Nam Road, Ap Lei Chau. Officers took immediate enforcement action.
The suspects immediately fled with the speedboat and the private car. Subsequently, officers seized eight cartons of goods at scene. No arrest was made in the operation.
A Customs spokesperson said today that the department would 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 cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Wednesday, January 9 2013
