Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police last night (May 6) smashed a suspected speedboat smuggling case in a joint sea operation in Hong Kong western waters. A total of 150 boxes and 30 bags containing a variety of goods, including a large quantity of electronic goods and suspected endangered species with an estimated total value of more than $10 million, were seized.
The goods seized in the operation included 229 cameras, more than 10,000 mobile phones, and a large quantity of other electronic goods, a batch of live tortoises, lizards, spiders, and about 129 kilograms of suspected pangolin scales and about 10kg of suspected hornbill beak, with an estimated value of more than $10 million.
Officers of Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police found several suspicious men loading boxes of goods onto a speedboat at Rambler Channel Public Cargo Working Area last night and took immediate action. Several suspects then fled in the speedboat, leaving the smuggled goods and a truck behind. A 27-year-old man was arrested. Investigation is continuing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of exporting unmanifested cargo 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, May 7, 2015
