Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 27) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the New Territories and smashed a suspected smuggling syndicate. Two container tractors, four trailers with false compartments and a large number of computer goods and silver beads were seized at Lok Ma Chau Control Point, a fenced cargo yard in Tin Shui Wai and warehouses for storing the smuggling goods at Kowloon Bay and Sha Tin. The seizure worth more than $31 million.
Customs officers intercepted two outbound container tractors with 40-feet trailers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point yesterday morning. A total of 3 960 central processing units and 206.7 kilogrammes of sliver beads, worth over $3.1 million, were found concealed in the false compartments of the axles of the trailers. Officers further detected of a large batch of computer products, including 2 664 computer RAMs, 14 810 central processing units, 8 160 memory cards, 190.1 kilogrammes of sliver beads and 660 sticks of cigarettes, worth about $13.3 million, were made during subsequent search to the fenced cargo yard in Tin Shui Wai.
A total of 28 679 hard disks, 4 576 used mobile phones, 12 256 USB drives and 890 memory cards worth about $15.2 million were found during further premises search to the warehouses in industrial buildings in Sha Tin and Kowloon Bay respectively.
A total of 10 suspected syndicate members including the mastermind and other core members, aged between 20 and 61, were arrested. Investigation is continuing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. 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.
Ends/Thursday, August 28, 2014
