The Customs and Excise Department and the Marine Police yesterday (December 6) jointly conducted an anti-smuggling operation in Starling Inlet, Sha Tau Kok, and smashed a speedboat smuggling case. In the operation, 120 tablet computers, 280 mobile phones, 35 computer harddisks, 2,100 computer memory drives and a speedboat with a total value of about $1 million were seized.
At about 9pm last night, Customs officers of the Joint Anti-smuggling Task Force together with Marine Police officers of the Marine North Division and Small Boat Division, while conducting an anti-smuggling operation in Sha Tau Kok, found four men loading some carton boxes from one speedboat onto another speedboat in Starling Inlet. Officers took immediate enforcement action.
The four suspects immediately fled in the speedboats and a police launch gave chase. Two men eventually left Hong Kong waters with one of the speedboats while another speedboat was grounded on the seashore. Two men jumped out of the boat and fled.
Subsequently, the officers seized the speedboat and eight cartons of goods at scene. No arrests were made in the operation.
A Customs spokesman said today (December 7) that the department would continue to take stringent enforcement action with the Marine Police to combat sea smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of exporting unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Friday, December 7 2012
