Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 2) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at Lok Ma Chau Control Point and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary goods vehicle. A batch of suspected smuggled dried abalone with an estimated market value of about $1.95 million was seized.
During the operation, Customs officers intercepted an outbound goods vehicle declared as carrying soft drinks, cookies and dried sea cucumber. The batch of suspected smuggled dried abalone weighing about 39 kilograms was seized. A 50-year-old male driver suspected to be connected with the case is assisting the investigation.
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.
Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
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).
