Hong Kong Customs and Marine Police today (September 11) foiled a suspected case of frozen game meat smuggling by a speedboat in a joint sea operation on the waterfront at Fui Yip Street, Lau Fau Shan. A total of 40 boxes of suspected frozen game meat comprising pangolins and masked palm civets, with a total value of about $1.4 million, were seized.
Officers from Hong Kong Customs and the Task Force of the Marine West Division of the Marine Police found several suspicious men loading boxes of goods onto a speedboat on the waterfront at Fui Yip Street, Lau Fau Shan early this morning and took immediate action. The suspects then fled in the speedboat, leaving the smuggled goods behind. Officers seized 40 boxes of frozen game meat valued at about $1.4 million in the operation. The investigation is on-going.
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.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of illegally exporting a specimen of a scheduled species on Appendix II without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action with the Marine Police to combat sea smuggling activities.
Ends/Thursday, September 11, 2014
