Hong Kong Customs on August 14 detected a suspected case of using an ocean-going vessel to smuggle goods to Malaysia at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals. A large batch of suspected smuggled electronic components and computer products, with a total estimated market value of about $50 million, was seized.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods and thus formulated strategies to combat related activities, and identified an ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong for Malaysia for inspection.
Customs officers on August 14 mounted an operation and seized a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including electronic components, computer servers and computer RAM units, inside two containers, which were declared as containing "copper material, wire, cartridge and printed circuit board" and "metal scrap and wire" respectively, aboard the vessel.
An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Customs is the primary agency responsible for the suppression of smuggling activities and has long 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, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on related crimes.
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 upon conviction.
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/Wednesday, August 21, 2024
