In an anti-smuggling operation yesterday (April 10), Customs officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point thwarted a smuggling attempt by a 40-foot container truck, resulting in the seizure of about 980,000 sticks of dutiable cigarettes with an estimated value of $1.5 million and duty potential of $800,000.
At 8.16 am, Customs officers intercepted for search an incoming 40-foot container truck which was declared to be "empty loaded". During preliminary inspection, Customs officers identified signs of the container number having been altered and that the length inside the container apparently shorter than usual.
With the application of risk management and the aid of the Vehicle X-ray Inspection System, Customs officers confirmed that the container number was forged and identified a false compartment inside the container. After thorough examination, Customs officers found at the innermost of the container a hinged entrance being sealed by screws and covered by silicon glue and paint as camouflage. Inside the false compartment were about 980,000 sticks of dutiable cigarettes.
A 63-year-old male driver was arrested pending further investigations.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said today (April 11) that Customs officers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point had detected a total of four cases last year involving false compartment smuggling out goods, and the above case was the first involving false compartment for smuggling in goods cracked by officers at Lok Ma Chau this year.
He reiterated that Customs officers would continue to place heavy emphasis on intelligence collection to reinforce frontline operations to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities.
Anyone found importing unmanifested cargo will be charged under the Import and Export Ordinance with "importing unmanifested cargoes". Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment. The smuggled goods and the vehicle involved are liable to forfeiture.
Ends/Monday, April 11, 2005