Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 29) conducted an anti-smuggling operation and seized about 30 000 suspected smuggled goods with an estimated market value of about $2.71 million at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and at a village house in San Tin. The seizure includes smart phones, integrated circuits, fountain pens and facial masks.
Customs earlier conducted an in-depth investigation on a smuggling syndicate and took enforcement action yesterday. Customs officers first intercepted three outbound private vehicles at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and found a batch of suspected smuggled smart phones and fountain pens in false compartments of the vehicles.
After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers seized another batch of smart phones, integrated circuits, fountain pens and facial masks at a village house in San Tin, which was used as a storage, and in a private vehicle parked outside the premises.
In the operation, five men and four women aged between 25 and 62 were arrested and four private vehicles were detained.
An 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.
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/Friday, August 30, 2019
