Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 14) detected a suspected smuggling case using a fishing vessel and a speedboat in the waters off Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). A large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including electronic products, high-value food and cosmetics, with an estimated market value of about $50 million in total was seized. This is the largest smuggling case detected by Customs so far this year.
Officers yesterday conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the waters off HKIA and spotted several suspicious men moving suspected smuggled goods from a fishing vessel onto a speedboat. Officers then took action and the men immediately jumped onto the speedboat and fled.
During the operation, Customs officers detained a fishing vessel suspected to be in connection with the case for further investigation. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including suspected amber, dried sea cucumbers, dried fish maws, dried shark fins, bird nests, computer display cards, smartphones, computer RAMs, solid-state drives, cosmetics, wine and liquor products as well as high-value handbags and apparel, was seized on board the vessel.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs stresses that it would keep up its enforcement action and would continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities by proactive risk-management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies. Targeted anti-smuggling operations will also be mounted from time to time to land a solid blow against the 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/Saturday, May 15, 2021
