Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police yesterday (August 17) mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cargo vessel in the south-western waters of Hong Kong. About 22 tonnes of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of about $3.4 million were seized.
Customs officers and Marine Police officers conducted a joint anti-smuggling operation and spotted a suspicious cargo vessel in the waters off Cheung Chau last night. Several men on the cargo vessel, suspected of participating in smuggling activities, were unloading goods onto a high-powered speedboat. Customs officers and Marine Police officers immediately took action and intercepted the cargo vessel. The batch of suspected smuggled frozen meat was seized on board the vessel.
During the operation, Customs officers arrested five men aged between 27 and 48 who were suspected to be connected with the case.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs stresses that it will keep up its enforcement action and will continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities by proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times and maintaining close co-operation in its intelligence exchanges with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to land a solid blow against relevant activities.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, August 18, 2022
