​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 28) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at Yau Tong industrial area and detected a suspected speedboat smuggling case. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including red coral, dried fish maws, bird nests, dried shark fins and used mobile phones, with an estimated market value of about $14 million was seized, and a light goods vehicle suspected to be connected with the case was detained.
Customs officers yesterday evening conducted an anti-smuggling operation at the Yau Tong industrial area and spotted a suspicious speedboat heading towards the seashore of the industrial area with its navigation lights off. Later, several suspicious men on the shore moved a batch of goods onto the speedboat. They were suspected of participating in smuggling activities. The officers then took action and the speedboat fled towards the southern waters of Hong Kong.
Customs officers later seized the batch of suspected smuggled goods in a nearby open space and inside a light goods vehicle. A 41-year-old male driver of the light goods vehicle was arrested.
An investigation is ongoing and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs stresses that it will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times 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, June 29, 2023
