Prompt actions taken by Customs officers of Marine Enforcement Division resulted in the seizure of 50 dismantled private cars and vehicle spare parts, totally worth about $1 million, from a departing Mainland cargo vessel off West Lamma Channel last night (March 17).
About 9pm, Customs officers intercepted a vessel off West Lamma Channel, and made the seizure after a series of chase. Since the goods were not covered by export manifest, four Mainlanders, crew members of the vessel, were arrested.
The arrested men, aged between 27 and 35, were detained at Customs Marine Base and would be charged with smuggling offences.
The spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (March 18) stressed that the Department would continue to take vigorous enforcement actions against cross-boundary smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious crime. The maximum penalty for the offence is $2 million fine and seven years of imprisonment.
Ends/Saturday, March 18, 2006