​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 14) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a speedboat. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, with an estimated market value of about $11 million, was seized.
In the anti-smuggling operation conducted in the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market last night, Customs found several men gathering at the waterfront and a large batch of goods placed on the ground nearby. Later, a suspicious speedboat was seen heading towards the waterfront with its navigation lights off and the above-mentioned persons quickly transferred the batch of goods onto the speedboat. They were suspected of engaging in smuggling activities.
Customs officers immediately took action, and the above-mentioned persons swiftly jumped onto the speedboat and fled to Mainland waters.
Subsequently, Customs officers seized about 87 cartons of suspected smuggled goods, including live lobsters, dried fish maws, mobile phones and computer tablets, at the waterfront.
An investigation is ongoing.
Customs is the primary agency responsible for the suppression of smuggling activities and has all along been combating various smuggling activities proactively at the forefront. Customs 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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Friday, September 15, 2023
