In a joint operation with Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) this morning (March 21), Customs officers of Shek Chung Au Check Post seized from a lorry, which departed from Sha Tau Kok Village, 4,018 kg fresh pork without official health certificate. The seizure was worth about $128,000.
About 7am, Customs officers intercepted a lorry and seized from it 132 bags of fresh pork without official health certificate.
A 38-year-old local male driver was arrested. The case was referred to FEHD for follow-up action.
This case was the result of close surveillance checks conducted by FEHD and Customs on target vehicles over the past few days.
In 2005, Customs officers of Shek Chung Au Check Post cracked 16 cases involving importing pork without official health certificate. They seized about 9,833 kg pork, worth about $320,000.
So far in 2006, Customs officers have detected three cases including the current one, seizing 7,335 kg pork without official health certificate, valued at $233,700.
Any person found guilty of "importing meat without an official certificate" is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and an imprisonment for six months.
Ends/Tuesday, March 21, 2006