Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 30) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and detected two suspected smuggling cases involving cross-boundary private cars. About 302 kilograms of unmanifested live lobsters and about 51kg of unmanifested hairy crabs with a total estimated market value of about $380,000 were seized.
In the first case, Customs Officers intercepted an outbound private car which was claimed to have nothing to declare at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Upon inspection, the batch of unmanifested live lobsters was seized in the boot of the car. A 45-year-old male driver was arrested and he has been released on bail pending further investigation.
The second case was detected on the same day. Customs Officers intercepted an inbound private car which was declared to be empty at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Upon inspection, the batch of unmanifested hairy crabs was seized in the boot of the car. A 44-year-old male driver was arrested.
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 smuggling activities by use of cross-boundary private cars with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and pay close attention to the smuggling trends of seasonal aquatic products. Special enforcement operations will be conducted when necessary.
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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Thursday, August 31, 2023
