Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected sea-bound smuggling case of motorcycles at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound in December 2014. A total of 65 motorcycles valued at about $4.2 million were seized from three containers. This was the largest case of suspected motorcycle smuggling in a decade.
On December 17, Customs officers using risk assessment identified a suspicious container declared as containing scrap metal, arriving in Hong Kong from Australia. Upon examination, Customs officers found 20 unmanifested motorcycles and 111 tyres. During follow-up investigation, Customs officers noted that two other suspicious containers would soon be arriving from Australia. On December 30, Customs officers examined these two containers, also declared as containing scrap metal, and found another 45 motorcycles and 82 tyres therein.
Two men, aged 46 and 29, were arrested and released on bail pending further investigation.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Friday, January 9, 2015
