Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 20) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary lorry. About 44 000 pieces of metal parts, about 32 000 pieces of computer parts, about 9 300 pieces of equipment parts, about 380 pieces of mobile phone parts, about 200 units of network equipment and about 200 pieces of clothing, with a total estimated market value of about $1.8 million, were seized.
Customs officers yesterday intercepted an inbound lorry declared as carrying Bluetooth headsets at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point. Upon inspection, the batch of suspected smuggled goods was seized inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 54-year-old male driver was arrested and was put on bail pending further investigation.
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, March 21, 2024
