Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 15) detected a suspected smuggling case using a barge in the waters off Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). About 210 tonnes of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of about $7.3 million were seized.
Customs officers spotted a suspicious barge when conducting an anti-smuggling operation in the waters off HKIA yesterday evening. Customs officers took immediate action and seized the batch of suspected smuggled frozen meat on board the barge.
In the operation, nine men on board the barge suspected to be connected with the case, aged between 28 and 65, were arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Saturday, May 16, 2020
