Hong Kong Customs on April 2 detected a suspected smuggling case involving a river trade vessel. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $20 million was seized.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs suspected that criminals were using river trade vessels to smuggle goods to Macao and thus formulated strategies to combat related activities. During the operation, a river trade vessel departing from Hong Kong and bound for Macao was selected for inspection on April 2. Upon examination, Customs officers onboard the vessel found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including beauty needles, health products and pharmaceutical products.
An investigation is ongoing.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has all along been combating various smuggling activities 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, April 12, 2024
