Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police foiled a suspected case of smuggling latest-model smartphones by speedboat in a joint sea operation on the waterfront at Deep Bay Road, Lau Fau Shan, last night (September 25). A total of 11 carton boxes containing 286 iPhone 6 devices, with a total value of about $1.6 million, were seized.
Officers from Hong Kong Customs and the Marine West Division of the Marine Police found several suspicious men at Deep Bay Road loading boxes of goods from the mangroves at the waterfront onto a sampan for transfer to a speedboat berthed at a distance. Officers took immediate action. The suspects then fled in the speedboat, leaving the smuggled goods behind. Officers seized 11 boxes with 286 iPhone 6 devices amounting to about $1.6 million in the operation. The investigation is ongoing.
Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police had earlier foiled another suspected case of smuggling smartphones and electronic goods valued at about $3 million by speedboat at Wong Shek Public Pier, Sai Kung, on September 20.
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.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action with the Marine Police to combat sea smuggling activities.
Ends/Friday, September 26, 2014
