The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) seized 634 suspected smuggled hairy crabs and 190 kilograms of suspected smuggled razor clams with an estimated value of about $100,000 during an anti-sea smuggling operation mounted off Aberdeen today (October 29).
Customs officers intercepted a fishing vessel off Aberdeen this morning. After a search on board, a batch of suspected smuggled hairy crabs and razor clams were found. The vessel’s local captain was subsequently arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
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.
In addition, according to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
The C&ED will continue to step up customs clearance inspection on related cargos via sea, land and air. It will also continue to step up its anti-smuggling operation and maintain a close co-operation and intelligence exchange with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department to combat illegal import of food. Traders are reminded not to import or put on sale hairy crabs of unknown origin and consumers should procure hairy crabs at reputable shops.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to the C&ED’s 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Sunday, October 29, 2017
