Customs seizes illicit cigarettes and smuggled goods from transshipment containers (with photos)

Hong Kong Customs smashed two transshipment smuggling cases at Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound on April 10, resulting in the seizure of a batch of illicit cigarettes and some suspected counterfeit goods with a total value of about $2.4 million.

Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 20-foot container declared to contain "handbags" from a river trade vessel which was to be transshipped to Australia. Under x-ray examination, Customs officers discovered that the consignment was camouflaged with about 150 large suitcases and a total of 0.6 million sticks of illicit cigarettes were found at the back of the container. The unmanifested cigarettes, with a total value of about $1.5 million and a duty potential of $1.02 million, were seized for follow-up investigation.

On the same day, another 20-foot container declared to contain "cleansers" destined for the United Arab Emirates was also examined. Upon inspection, over 53 000 bottles of suspected counterfeit shampoo, valued at about $0.89 million in total, with false trade origin descriptions were found.

A Customs spokesman said today (April 12) that investigations on both cases are continuing and no arrests had been made so far.

"Hong Kong Customs will continue to fulfil our international obligations by actively detecting contraband, and the department will step up efforts in combating transnational smuggling crimes," he added.

Infringements of the following ordinances will lead to penalties:

1. Those importing goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies are liable to a maximum fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years;
2. Those importing unmanifested cargoes are liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years under the Import and Export Ordinance; and
3. Those importing goods to which a false trade description or forged trademark is applied are liable to a maximum fine of $0.5 million and imprisonment for five years under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.

Ends/Friday, April 12 2013