Customs seizes contraband and smuggled goods from transshipment containers (with photos)

Hong Kong Customs has smashed two transshipment smuggling cases during the past two days (November 16 and 17) involving unmanifested cargoes violating different ordinances with a total value of about $6.8 million.

Through risk assessment, Customs officers on November 16 selected for cargo examination a 20-foot container declared to contain bath tubs and crafts goods from a river trade vessel destined for Thailand.

Upon inspection, the officers found various contraband goods, including over 310,000 suspected aphrodisiac pills and Chinese medication, 500 cans of refrigerant suspected to be ozone-depleting substances, 498 crossbows suspected to be used as arms, over 50,000 suspected counterfeit vehicle parts with false trade descriptions and 10,000 illicit cigarettes.

In another case on November 17, Customs officers selected for X-ray examination a 40-foot container declared to contain lace and tableware boxes from another river trade vessel destined for Kenya. It was found to contain over 800 unmanifested television sets bearing suspected forged trademarks and/or false trade origin descriptions.

A Customs spokesman said today (November 18) that investigation of both cases was continuing and no arrests had been made so far.

"Hong Kong Customs will continue to fulfill its international obligations by actively detecting contraband and the department will step up efforts in combating transnational smuggling crimes," he added.

Under the following ordinances, any person found guilty of the following offences can be penalised:

1. "Importing unmanifested cargoes" is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years under the Import and Export Ordinance;
2. "Importing prohibited article not under and in accordance with an import licence" is liable to a maximum fine of $0.5 million and imprisonment for two years under the Import and Export Ordinance and Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance;
3. "Dealing in arms by way of trade or business without a dealer's licence" is liable to a maximum fine of $0.1 million and imprisonment for 10 years under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance;
4. "Importing scheduled substances without a licence" is liable to a maximum fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years under the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance;
5. "Importing goods to which a false trade description or forged trade mark is applied" is liable to a maximum fine of $0.5 million and imprisonment for five years under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance; and
6. "Importing goods to which Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" is liable to a maximum fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Hong Kong Customs seized various contraband from two containers. The photo shows the unmanifested cargoes including crossbows, aphrodisiac pills and Chinese medication, vehicle parts and refrigerants.

Some of the seized crossbows, with different sizes and draw weights.

Seized refrigerants containing suspected ozone-depleting substances.

Some of the suspected aphrodisiac pills and Chinese medication seized.

One of the television sets bearing suspected forged trademarks and/or false trade origin descriptions.

A large batch of vehicle parts was seized in one of the containers.