Hong Kong Customs yesterday (February 21) detected a suspected smuggling case involving a medium goods vehicle at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. About 1 300 suspected smuggled computer RAM units and about 700 suspected smuggled solid state drives with a total estimated market value of about $1.1 million were seized.
Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday intercepted an outgoing medium goods vehicle at the control point. Upon X-ray examination, Customs officers spotted irregularities in the images of the vehicle's undercarriage. The batch of suspected smuggled goods was found concealed inside the chassis frame under the cargo compartment of the vehicle.
A 50-year-old male driver was arrested and charged with one count of attempting to export unmanifested cargo. The case will be brought up at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts on February 29.
Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
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/Thursday, February 22, 2024
