Hong Kong Customs seized a batch of suspected smuggled goods including electronic products, electronic cigarettes and suspected nicotine-containing cigarette oil with an estimated market value of about $7.8 million at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on December 5.
Customs officers intercepted an incoming truck at Lok Ma Chau Control Point for inspection on that evening and found the batch of suspected smuggled goods inside the cargo compartment, including 720 portable monitors, 550 sets of all-in-one computers, about 18 500 sets of electronic cigarettes and about 78 000 millilitres of suspected nicotine-containing cigarette oil. The 45-year-old male driver was arrested.
An investigation is ongoing and the suspected nicotine-containing oil for electronic cigarettes seized will be sent to the Government Laboratory for examination.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against cross-boundary smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
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. Also, any person who imports pharmaceutical products without a valid import licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two 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/Monday, December 14, 2020
