Anti-smuggling

A major mission of the department is to prevent and detect the smuggling of contraband and prohibited articles, the import and export of which are controlled under the laws of Hong Kong, for the purpose of protecting the community and environment, maintaining public health and fulfilling international obligations.  Items being smuggled include dutiable commodities, narcotics, firearms, strategic goods, infringing copies, goods bearing forged trademarks and goods with false origin labels. In the fight against smuggling activities, the department has strived to maintain a proper balance between control and trade facilitation to ensure speedy flow of legitimate cargoes at the entry and exit points.

In the past two years, the department continued to make achievements in anti-smuggling work without compromising the objectives of trade facilitation. Details of the anti-smuggling achievements are provided in the ensuing paragraphs.

Smuggling between HKSAR and the Mainland

Smuggling of general merchandise between Hong Kong and the Mainland is a matter of concern for both sides. In 2005, the department detected 288 smuggling cases, including 133 at sea and 155 on land resulting in the arrest of 338 persons and the seizures amounted to $271.6 million. In 2006, 204 smuggling cases were detected, 110 at sea and 94 on land, with 393 arrestees and $266.8 million worth seizure.

The drop in the number of cases and the seizure value, as compared the figures between 2005 and 2006, indicated that the sustained stringent enforcement by the department coupled with the closer cooperation with the Mainland counterparts and local enforcement agencies have successfully deterred the smuggling activities in 2006.

The duty gradient between Hong Kong and the Mainland is the major reason that spurs smuggling activities. Electrical appliances, computers and related accessories, mobile phones, vehicles and vehicle parts, marked oil and optical discs are hot items which smugglers favour sneaking into the huge market on the Mainland side. On the other hand, cigarettes, illicit fuel, pirated optical discs, counterfeit goods and chilled or frozen meat are popular items in the black market in Hong Kong. The very busy boundary crossing points and ports provide an opportune environment that has been taken advantage of by smugglers.

The common concealment methods used on land were false compartments built at lorries and containers. Declared goods were placed at the outermost part of the cargo compartment as camouflage. At sea, speedboats, motorized sampans and fishing vessels were the common means of conveyance used by smugglers and their smuggling activities usually took place at night so as to evade enforcement detection. However, they could not escape from Customs detection which was attributable to expertise, advanced detection equipment and accurate intelligence analysis.

Dutiable Commodities

In 2005, interdiction of cigarette smuggling remained a task of priority to the department. During the period, a total of 100.7 million sticks of cigarettes was seized. While cigarette smuggling by cross-boundary vehicles from the Mainland continued to prevail, some criminal syndicates were seen using speedboats and sampans to smuggle illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong waters and transfer them onto connecting lorries for distribution to the local black market. However, in 2006, the use of this sea-borne smuggling mode diminished substantially in the wake of the department’s vigorous enforcement. The use of cross boundary vehicles to smuggle cigarettes into Hong Kong continues. By the end 2006, a total of 78.7 million sticks of cigarette was seized.

Smuggling by Cross-boundary Vehicles

Mix-loading with false declaration was a common cigarette smuggling tactic by cross-boundary lorries. On 7 March 2005, officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point detected a smuggling case with the largest quantity of cigarettes seized in the year 2005. From an incoming lorry, which was falsely declared to carry “Plastic Hand-made Flower”, Customs officers seized 3.2 million sticks of cigarette valued at $4.74 million with duty potential amounting to $2.54 million.

3.2 million sticks of assorted illicit cigarettes were seized inside the cargo compartment of a lorry at Lok Ma Chau Control Point. Seizure of 3.2 million sticks of assorted illicit cigarettes. X-ray scanning image of the lorry.

On 1 September 2005, officers of Man Kam To Control Point detected a cigarette smuggling case in which a total of 1.18 million sticks of cigarette, with a market value at $1.77 million and duty potential at $0.95 million, were seized from an incoming lorry. The smuggler deceitfully mixed the cigarettes with other items, including fresh fruits and undeclared fresh pork, inside the cargo compartment of the vehicle.

Seizure of illicit cigarettes from an incoming lorry at Man Kam To Control Point.

On 17 November 2005, officers of Man Kam To Control Point seized 2.15 million sticks of illicit cigarette on board an incoming truck. The cigarettes were stashed under the general cargo of “electronic accessories” and “woman clothing” as cover load to distract Customs inspection. The total seizure value was $3.53 million and the duty potential amounted to $1.73 million.

On 5 March 2006, officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point detected another smuggling case from an incoming lorry, which was falsely declared to carry “Clothing and Returned Material”. A total of 2.7 million sticks of cigarette, valued at approximately $4.07 million with duty potential amounting to $2.18 million, were seized.

2.7 million sticks of assorted illicit cigarettes were seized from an incoming lorry at Lok Ma Chau Control Point. 2.7 million sticks of assorted illicit cigarettes.

In 2006, criminal syndicates’ smuggling tactics became more sophisticated as Customs enforcement intensified. On 20 September 2006, officers of the Anti-Illicit Cigarette Investigation Division raided a fenced area at Fanling and seized therein 821 020 sticks of illicit cigarettes. These cigarettes had been packed in specially tailored cardboard boxes, concealed in 224 hollowed cement slabs and disguised as building materials for smuggling into Hong Kong by cross-boundary lorry. The total seizure value was $1.23 million and the duty potential amounted to $660 100.

Smuggling by Travellers

On 7 November 2005, officers of HK-Macau Ferry Terminal intercepted an incoming Hong Kong male passenger for baggage examination after he had passed through the Green Channel. As a result, 5 060 sticks of assorted cigarette with market value of $7 590 and duty potential of $4 068 were found inside the passenger’s traveling case and plastic bag.

Smuggled cigarettes inside plastic bag. Smuggled cigarettes inside traveling case.

On 30 November 2005, officers of HK-Macau Ferry Terminal intercepted an incoming Filipina female passenger for baggage examination after she had passed through the Green Channel. 8 220 sticks of assorted cigarette, which were wrapped by carbon papers and covered by a plastic bag, were found inside the passenger’s suitcase. The market value of the seizures amounted to $12 330 and duty potential of $6 608.

Carbon paper-wrapped cigarettes smuggled by a Filipino female traveller.

On 5 August 2006, officers of HK-Macau Ferry Terminal intercepted two incoming Filipina female passengers for baggage examination after they had passed through the Green Channel. As a result, 5 400 sticks of assorted cigarette, with market value of $8 640 and duty potential of $4 341, were found inside two suitcases.

Smuggled dutiable cigarettes found inside suitcases carried by two Filipina travellers.

To combat passengers' abuses of duty-free concessions, Customs officers use the "Entry-Exit Processing and Records System" (EXPRESS) of the Immigration Department system in verifying whether incoming passengers with Hong Kong identity card have left Hong Kong for at least 24 hours, which is a criterion for enjoying duty-free concessions. In 2005, Customs officers at the land boundary control points processed 41 800 cases, involving a total of 23.8 million sticks of cigarette. Under the Compounding Scheme, fines totaling $12.03 million were paid in respect of 3 454 abused cases involving a total of 1.28 million sticks of cigarette in 2005.

In 2006, a total of 27 225 cases, involving a total of 15.3 million sticks of cigarette, were processed at various land boundary control points. Under the Compounding Scheme, fines totaling $24.87 million were paid in respect of 8 065 cases involving a total of 2.03 million sticks of cigarette.

At the Hong Kong International Airport, there were respectively 234 and 234 passengers arrested and dealt with by way of compounding in 2005 and 2006, and 17 and 9 among them were prosecuted for bringing into Hong Kong dutiable commodities in excess of their duty-free concessions. The total amount so compounded was $1.44 million in 2005 and $1.43 million in 2006.

Project Crocodile

To further target cigarette smugglers who might exploit Hong Kong as a transit point for transshipping cigarettes to other countries, and to take sustained and vigorous enforcement actions against illicit shipments, the department launched the “Project Crocodile” in August 2004 with 16 other Customs Administrations in the Asia Pacific Region. In 2005, the Project contributed to the record seizures of 32 containers with 274.8 million sticks of illicit cigarette worldwide, including 3 containers in Hong Kong and 26 in Europe. Widely recognized as effective for interdiction of transnational cigarette diversion, the Project won unanimous support from participants at the Review Meeting in May 2005 for ongoing operation. In 2006, in response to shipment notifications issued by the department, the German Customs and Panama Customs seized a further 5.9 million sticks and 4.75 million sticks of illicit cigarettes respectively. The number of participating Customs Administrations was increased to 18 in 2006.

The strategies of pre-emptive measure to stem the flow of illicit cigarettes from their source, make interception at the three land-boundary control points and strengthen intelligence collection have been proven effective with encouraging enforcement results.

Illicit Fuel

Smuggling of illicit fuel from the Mainland by cross-boundary vehicles and by vessels persisted in 2005. Through increased checks on incoming vehicles and vessels, 101 cases, 77 at land boundary control points and 24 at sea, were effected in 2005 with a total seizure of 73 678 litres of illicit fuel. Due to our vigorous enforcement, illicit fuel smuggling by sea was contained in 2006 and 11 cases were detected with 4 079 litres of illicit fuel seized. As for boundary control points, 28 cases were effected with 19 133 litres of illicit fuel seized for the year.

Dangerous Drugs

Drug syndicates have also taken advantage of the very heavy passenger and vehicular traffic at the various entry and exit points to smuggle drugs into Hong Kong.  Small quantity of dangerous drugs is smuggled in at a time to reduce the chance of detection and minimize loss upon interception.

Ketamine, cannabis, methylamphetamine (‘ice’), heroin, cocaine and MDMA (‘ecstasy’) are the major types of dangerous drugs smuggled into Hong Kong. In 2005, the department detected 648 drugs cases.  Among these cases, one was detected in March 2005 at the Hong Kong International Airport with the arrest of a Hong Kong man from Singapore who carried 16 kilograms of ketamine contained in 32 cans camouflaged as milk powder.  Follow-up investigation led to the further arrest of 6 people and seizure of 71.5 kilograms of ketamine with the same packing as well.  In the operation, Customs officers successfully smashed an international drug syndicate with a total seizure of 87.5 kilograms of ketamine, valued at $30 million, and arrest of 7 persons in Hong Kong.

16 kilograms of ketamine packed as milk powder were found inside an incoming passenger at the Airport in March 2005 Commissioner of Customs and Excise held a press conference after successfully smashing a syndicate with 87.5 kilograms of ketamine in March 2005

In 2006, the department detected 638 dangerous drugs cases. Of these cases, one was detected in March at the Hong Kong International Airport with the seizure of 5 kilograms of ketamine disguised as rice in an express air parcel arriving from India.  Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of an Indian man and a Ghanaian man with further seizure of 6 kilograms of ketamine.  The total seizure value was $2 million. In another series of investigation, 15 cases of transnational drug trafficking by means of internal concealment at the Airport were cracked in November 2006.  Officers seized total 30 kilograms of high-grade heroin, with street value of about HK$14 million, and arrested 15 Africans, aged between 18 and 41.

5 kilograms of ketamine in an express air parcel arriving from India was seized at Hong Kong International Airport in March 2006. The ketamine were packed as foodstuff and declared as "rice"

At the Hong Kong International Airport, ketamine, heroin, cannabis, cocaine and MDMA ("ecstasy") were the main types of dangerous drugs seized by Customs officers in 2005, with 102 cases detected and 77 persons arrested in total.  The total seizure value was $ 59.7 million. Major seizures included 161.1 kilograms of ketamine, 9.9 kilograms of heroin, 13.5 kilograms of cannabis, 1.4 kilograms of cocaine and 2 249 tablets of MDMA ("ecstasy").  In 2006 , the main types of dangerous drugs seized by officers at the Hong Kong International Airport were heroin, ketamine,  cannabis, cocaine and methylamphetamines. There were 117 cases detected with the arrest of 68 persons.  The total seizure value was $46 million. Major seizures included 73.5 kilograms of herbal cannabis, 49.2 kilograms of ketamine, 41.1 kilograms of heroin, 8.2 kilograms of cocaine and 1.9 kilograms of cannabis buds  Among these cases, 19 involved internal concealment.

Besides, at other land boundary control points, 117 dangerous drugs cases were detected by Customs officers in 2005, while 122 dangerous drugs cases were detected in 2006. Noticeably, the drug couriers changed the modus operandi to smuggle smaller quantity of dangerous drugs in each trip and make more frequent attempts in order to minimize the loss upon interception by Customs.  The common modus operandi includes camouflaging as itinerary travelers with the dangerous drugs mix-loaded with personal belongings.

Apart from ketamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA, the majority of the dangerous drugs cases detected at the control points fall in the category of benzodiazepines such as estazolam, midazolam and triazolam.
On 7 February 2005, officers of Lo Wu Control Point successfully detected a dangerous drug case from a Mainland male traveller camouflaging as normal incoming traveller among the crowds. A total of 200 grams of heroin hydrochloride in two packets, valued at $70 000, were found inside the inner pocket of the jacket wearing by the male.

On 7 April 2005, around 5.4 kilograms of cannabis resin, with an estimated market value of $474 800, were seized from a Napalese male arriving from Bangkok. A slab of drugs was found concealed inside the bottom layer of the defendant’s check-in suitcase.

Officers at the Airport seized 5.4 kilograms of cannabis resin from an incoming passenger

On 11 May 2005, officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point searched an outgoing 40-foot container truck which was declared as “empty”. 50 kilograms of ketamine, valued at $12.2 million, were eventually found inside the driving compartment.

50 kilograms of ketamine were packed in zip-lock plastic bags and nylon bag and placed inside the driving compartment of an outgoing tractor at Lok Ma Chau Control Point in May 2005 50 kilograms of ketamine seized inside the driving compartment of an outgoing 40-foot container truck at Lok Ma Chau Control Point.

On 29 May 2005, 2.6 kilograms of herbal cannabis, with an estimated market value of $169 000, were seized from an inbound express parcel arriving from Ghana. Upon examination of the parcel declared as “Tile sample”, five packets of herbal cannabis were found.

2.6 kilograms of herbal cannabis were seized from an inbound express parcel falsely declared as “Tile sample”

On 3 August 2005, 2.2 kilograms of heroin with an estimated market value of $849 200, were seized from a Filipino female arriving from Bangkok. The drugs were concealed inside the bottom layer of the defendant’s suitcase.

2.2 kilograms of heroin concealed inside the bottom layer of luggage were seized by officers of the Airport Command in August 2005

In September 2005, officers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point intercepted an incoming private car and arrested a local male passengers who was found in possession of 25 900 tablets of midazolam, valued at $492 000.

On 29 October 2005, officers at Man Kam To Control Point successfully detected a significant dangerous drugs case from a local male drug courier camouflaging as normal daily tripper among the crowds. One kilogram of cocaine, valued at $489 000, was found in a plastic bag contained in a shoulder bag carried by the drug courier. Drugs smugglers also took vehicular channel for trafficking.

1 kilogram cocaine was carried by a local passenger inside a shoulder bag through Man Kam To Control Point in October 2005.

On 3 December 2005, around 12.5 kilograms of ketamine, with an estimated market value of $3 33 million, were seized from an inbound express parcel arriving from Singapore via Subic Bay. Upon examination of the consignment declared as “one pair of speaker”, the drugs in 18 packets were found concealed inside the speakers.

12.5 kilograms of ketamine were found inside an inbound express parcel declared as “one pair of speaker” in December 2005 ‘A pair of speakers’ containing 12.5 kilograms of ketamine were sent into Hong Kong by express parcel in December 2005.

Another case with seizure valued at $2 million was detected in April 2006 at the Hong Kong International Airport. In the case, officers uncovered 3 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the inner lining of an unaccompanied rucksack arriving from Bangkok. Follow-up investigation led to the arrest of a Filipino woman.

3 kilograms of cocaine were concealed inside the inner lining of a rucksack at Hong Kong International Airport in April 2006.

On 11 April 2006, around 3.1 kilograms of heroin, with an estimated market value of $1.4 million, were seized from a Taiwanese female arriving from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The drugs were packed as foodstuff of “Chan Pai Mui” (陳皮梅) and placed inside the defendant’s check-in baggage.

3.1 kilograms of heroin were seized by officers at the Airport in April 2006. The drugs were packed as foodstuff of “Chan Pai Mui” (陳皮梅) and placed inside the check-in baggage of an incoming passenger.

On 14 June 2006, around 2.6 kilograms of heroin, with an estimated market value of $1.29 million, were seized from a Philippines female arriving from Bangkok, Thailand.   The drugs were concealed inside the inner linings of the defendant’s hand-held knapsack.

2.6 kilograms of heroin concealed inside the inner linings of the hand-held knapsack

On the same month, Customs officers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point successfully detected another significant dangerous drug case from an incoming local male passenger. The passenger carried 12 aluminum-bags containing 3.16 kilograms of ketamine inside a rucksack.

3.16 kilograms of ketamine contained inside aluminum foil bags were found inside the backpack of an incoming traveller at Lok Ma Chau Control Point.

On 29 and 30 August 2006, around 45 kilograms of herbal cannabis, with an estimated market value of $2.93 million, were seized from two South African females arriving from Johannesburg, South Africa. The drugs were packed in rectangular slabs and placed in the defendants’ check-in baggage.

Officers at the Airport seized 45 kilograms of herbal cannabis inAugust 2006. The drugs were packed in rectangular slabs and placed inside the check-in baggage.

On 14 September 2006, officers of Hunghom Railway Station successfully detected a dangerous drug case from an incoming Mainland female traveller. About 102 grams of methylamphetamine and 1.3 grams of cannabis, valued at about $40 000, were found mix-loaded with personal belongings inside her backpack.

102.8 grams of methylamphetamine and 1.3 grams of cannabis were found inside the backpack of an incoming traveler at Hunghom Railway Station

On 24 September 2006, shortly before the gate closed at the Lo Wu Control Point, an incoming Mainland female traveller was intercepted for personal search. A total of 51.5 grams of heroin hydrochloride, valued at $27 000, was found concealed inside her vagina.

51.5 grams of heroin hydrochloride were found concealed inside the vagina of an incoming female traveller at Lo Wu Control Point.

On 27 September 2006, around 2.1 kilograms of heroin, with an estimated market value of $1.13 million, were seized from a Tanzanian male arriving from Iran via Doha. The drugs in 142 pellets were internally concealed inside the anus and body cavity of the defendant.

2.1 kilograms of heroin packed in 142 pellets were internally concealed inside the anus and body cavity of an incoming passenger

On 2 October 2006, shortly before the gate closed at the Lo Wu Control Point, an incoming Hong Kong male traveller was selected for personal search. A total of 23 grams of heroin hydrochloride, valued at $12 000, was found in his baggage.

23 grams of heroin hydrochloride were found inside the baggage of an incoming traveller at Lo Wu Control Point.

On 29 November 2006, around 4 kilograms of heroin and 4 750 tablets of MDMA, with an estimated market value of $2.3 million, were seized from one HK male and two Taiwanese males arriving from Cambodia. The drugs were concealed inside the offender’s inner thighs and beneath the soles of their shoes.

4 kilograms of heroin and 4 750 tablets of MDMA were concealed inside the inner thighs and beneath the soles of the shoes of the incoming passengers.

Precious Metal

Since 2005, there had been a rising trend in the smuggling of precious metal to the Mainland. In 2005, 16 cases involving 2 273 kilograms of silver were detected by Customs officers at control points, while 11 cases involving 1 982 kilograms of silver were detected in 2006.

On 11 July 2005, officers of the Sha Tau Kok Division searched an outgoing 40-foot container truck. As a result, 12 pieces of silver slabs weighing 384 kilograms and 2 000 optical disc-drive components were seized from the vehicle. The seizures, valued at $1.14 million, were found inside a false compartment located at the innermost part of the container.

12 silver slabs weighing 384 kilograms and 2 000 optical disc-drive components were concealed inside a false compartment at the innermost part of a container at Sha Tau Kok Control Point.

On 3 June 2006, officers of Man Kam To Control Point selected an outgoing 40-foot container truck for vehicle search. As a result, 17 silver slabs weighing 255 kilograms were seized from the vehicle. The seizures, valued at $510 000, were concealed inside the frame rail behind the driving cab of the tractor.

17 silver slabs weighing 255 kilograms were concealed inside the frame rail behind the driving cab of the tractor at Man Kam To Control Point

On 20 July 2006, officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point detected a smuggling case in which 42 pieces of silver slab weighing 630 kilograms were seized from a container truck departing for the Mainland. The seizures, valued at $2.24 million, were concealed inside the inner parts of three trailer axles of the container truck.

42 silver slabs weighing 630 kilograms were concealed inside the inner parts of the three trailer axles of the container truck at Lok Ma Chau Control Point. Close-up of the concealment at one of the three trailer axles of the container truck

Arms and Weapons

To prevent any smuggling of arms and weapons into Hong Kong, Customs officers always maintain vigilance at all entry and exit points. In 2005, Customs officers arrested 6 incoming travellers and 3 cross-boundary driver for illegal possession of firearms and weapons at various land boundary control points. In these cases, 4 stun guns, 3 knuckledusters, 1 imitation handgun, 1 baton and 1 oleoresin capsicum foam were seized. Customs officers also arrested 6 incoming travellers in 2006 and seized 4 pistols with magazines, 2 batons, 1 stun gun, 1 knuckleduster, 1 nunchaku, 1 sword and 1 pepper spray.

At the Hong Kong International Airport, seizures included pistols, crossbows, various kinds of baton, assorted knives, Oleoresin Capsicum foam, stun guns, archery products, bullets, etc. In 2005, there were 19 cases detected with the arrest of 8 persons and total seizure value was $105 937  In 2006, 25 cases were detected and 17 persons were arrested. Total seizure value amounted to $48 138.

Establishment of Explosive Detector Dog Teams

Throughout the years, operations of the two dog teams were carried out effectively and efficiently. The two dog teams mainly worked at the Kwai Chung Container Cargo Terminal but they would also be deployed for working at various control points. In 2006, dog handlers attended related courses organized by the Police to improve their knowledge in the area of handling explosives.

Customs officer is conducting check with the help of explosive detector dog “Norton”

Counterfeit and Pirated Articles

The department continues to accord high priority to the protection of intellectual property rights, and Customs officers at various entry and exit points always guard against the smuggling of counterfeit and pirated goods.

A total of 57 cases with seizures valued at $29.2 million were effected at various land boundary control points in 2005 under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.  The seizures included garments, handbags, shoes, mobile phones and accessories, leather products, watches, computer accessories, cosmetics and household goods bearing forged trade marks or false origin labels. In 2006, 31 cases under the same Ordinance with similar seizures valued at $9 million were effected at various land boundary control points.

On 18 August 2005, officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point seized from an incoming private car 300 computer hard disks bearing forged trademarks and false trade descriptions. The seizures, including 3 207 mobile phones and 2 800 pieces of Random Access Memory (RAM), were worth $2.88 million.

At the Hong Kong International Airport, 53 cases were effected with 10 persons arrested in 2005, and 77 cases were effected in 2006 with the arrest of 35 persons. Seizures such as infringing DVDs, mobile phone accessories, computer parts and accessories, clothes, handbags and watches fetched a total value of $8 million and $13 million for 2005 and 2006 respectively.

On 17 January 2005, a total of 36 794 infringing game/mobile phone accessories bearing forged trademarks of “Nokia”, “Motorola”, “LG” and “Nintendo” etc, with an estimated value of $645 600, were seized from an export consignment destined for Pakistan.

36 794 infringing game and mobile phone accessories bearing forged trademarks seized from an export consignment in January 2005

On 25 October 2005, a total of 400 forged credit cards bearing the “VISA” and “Master Card” logo were seized from three outbound speedposts destined for London. Seven Mainlanders were arrested as a result of subsequent control delivery in London.

A total of 400 forged credit cards were found in three outbound speedposts in July 2005.

On 20 July 2006, a total of 16 500 infringing game cartridges bearing forged trademarks of “Nintendo” and “Gameboy”, with an estimated value of $1.65 million, were seized from an export consignment destined for Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

16 500 infringing game cartridges found inside an export consignment by officers at the Airport.

Computer Accessoriesies

Smuggling of high-value computer accessories to the Mainland was prevalent in 2005. There were 39 such cases with seizure value of $9.28 million in 2005. The figures for 2006 were 17 cases with seizure value of $8.71 million.

On 21 September 2006, officers of Sha Tau Kok Control Point detected a computer part smuggling case in which 1 200 pieces of Random Access Memory (RAM) stick and 600 nos. of central processing unit (CPU) were seized from a lorry departing for the Mainland. The seizures, valued at $602 000, were found concealed inside a coffin carried by the vehicle.

Computer accessories concealed inside a coffin leaned at the inner part of the lorry at Sha Tau Kok Control Point.

Telecommunication Equipment

Smuggling of mobile phones to the Mainland continued. In 2005, officers of the Control Points Command detected 32 such cases and seized 8 040 sets of mobile phone and 118 353 pieces of accessories valued at about $8.03 million. In 2006, 17 mobile phone smuggling cases were detected, with seizure of 2 092 sets of mobile phones and 33 570 pieces of accessories valued at about $1.86 million.

On 11 March 2005, officers of the Sha Tau Kok Division detected a mobile phone smuggling case with seizure valued at $1.66 million. A total of 758 sets of mobile phone were seized from an outgoing private car. The seizures were concealed inside the side-skirt and the compartment of the safety air bag of the vehicle.

Officers of Sha Tau Kok Control Point detected a mobile phone smuggling case with 758 sets of mobile phones valuing $1.66 million. The seizures were concealed inside the compartment of the safety air bag and the side-skirt of the vehicle.

Vehicle and Vehicle Parts

Smuggling of vehicles and vehicle parts remained rampant in 2005 and 2006. There were 65 smuggling cases with $5.09 million worth vehicles and vehicle parts seized at the entry and exit points in 2005. For the year 2006, seizure value amounted to $4.55 million with 40 cases detected.

On 17 March 2006, the department intercepted a Mainland cargo vessel in the waters off West Lamma Channel for clearance and officers found 52 unmanifested dismantled vehicles on board the vessel. The value of seizures amounted to $1 million. The captain of the vessel was charged with “attempting to export unmanifested cargo” and “failing to comply with the direction given by a member of C&E Service” under the Import and Export Ordinance and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.

52 dismantled vehicles were found on board a Mainland cargo vessel on 17 March 2006

In 2005 and 2006, Customs officers at the land boundary control points detected 30 cases and 8 cases respectively involving vehicles and vehicle parts. On 21 June 2006, officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point detected a smuggling case in which 6 dismantled left-hand-drive private cars, valued at $800 000, were seized from a container truck departing for the Mainland.

Officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point seized 6 dismantled private cars from a 40-foot container truck.

Optical Disc Mastering and Replication Machine

On 22 June 2005, officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point detected a smuggling case in which 5 units of optical disc mastering and replication machine were seized from a container truck departing for the Mainland. The seizures, valued at $1.16 million, were camouflaged by some plastic drums containing sand inside the container.

Meat and Poultry

Owing to the differential market price between Hong Kong and the Mainland, smuggling of meat and poultry into Hong Kong in large consignments conveyed by cross-boundary vehicles remained active in 2005 and 2006. Besides, the sneaking in of small quantity of fresh meat by local residents during their return from the Mainland for re-sale or self-consumption was not uncommon.

Smuggling of meat into Hong Kong through the land boundary was detected. To safeguard public health, apart from strengthening intelligence collection, customs officers also conducted a series of joint operations with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) at the land boundary control points.

On 27 March 2006, in a joint operation with the FEHD, officers of Man Kam To Control Point seized from an incoming medium goods vehicle 2 450 kilograms of unmanifested game, poultry, seafood, vegetables and chilled pork and beef together with 5 200 sticks of dutiable cigarette. The value of the seizures was about $75 000.

A total of 2 450 kilograms of chilled pork and beef, game, poultry, seafood and vegetables, and 5 200 sticks of cigarettes were seized in a joint operation between the department and the FEHD at Man Kam To Control Point.

Endangered Species

In 2005 and 2006, Customs officers at the land boundary control points detected 148 cases and 85 cases respectively of endangered species of plants, birds and animals. The items involved American ginseng, crocodile meat, cobra, bear bile powder, stony coral and orchid etc.

On 10 December 2005, officers of Man Kam To Control Point searched an outgoing 40-foot container truck which was declared as “empty”. As a result, 26 drums of American ginseng weighing 1 179.36 kilograms were seized from the container. The seizures, valued at $10 million, were concealed inside a secret compartment located at the innermost part of the container.

Seizures of American ginseng found inside a false compartment at the innermost part of the container at Man Kam To Control Point.

In January 2006, three cases of smuggling of pangolin were effected through ports and maritime enforcement. These cases involved a total seizure of 14 514 kilograms of pangolin carcass and 1 866 kilograms of pangolin scale which were classified as the endangered species. All three consignments were falsely declared as “frozen fish”. The containers were either imported from Malaysia or Indonesia and were intended for re-export to the Mainland or Taiwan. For the case effected on 7 January 2006, 1 224 kilograms of chicken paws without a valid import licence by the FEHD were also seized. The total value of seizures amounted to $3.47 million

14 514 kilograms of pangolin carcass, 1 866 kilograms of pangolin scale and 1 224 kilograms of chicken paws were seized by officers of the Ports and Maritime Command in January 2006.

On 9 May 2006, a huge shipment of four tonnes of elephant tusks concealed inside a 40-foot container arriving from Douala, Cameroon was seized. It was the biggest haul made by the department since the ban on international ivory trade in 1989. A total of 605 elephant tusks were found hidden inside a false compartment at the innermost part of the container. The value of the seizures amounted to $8 million. Investigation unveiled that the container was intended for re-export to Macau. Two Hong Kong residents were subsequently arrested in connection with the case.

The department seized a shipment of 4 tonnes of elephant tusks concealed inside a 40-feet container in May 2006.

At the Hong Kong International Airport, 64 cases involving the importation of endangered species without licence were detected with 55 persons arrested in 2005. Seizures included American ginseng, crocodile specimen, crocodile meat, dried seahorse, pangolin meat, orchids, ivory products and sea turtles shell, etc. which fetched a total value of $402 224. In 2006, 48 cases involving the same offence were also detected with 34 persons arrested at the Airport. Seizures including American ginseng, crocodile specimen, crocodile meat, orchids, ivory products, live land tortoises and dried seahorse fetched a total value of $281 585.

On 4 July 2005, around 50.2 kilograms of dried sea horses, with an estimated value of $20 080, were seized from an Indian male arriving from Colombo, Sri Lanka .

50.2 kilograms of dried sea horses were seized from an incoming passenger at the Airport in July 2005.

On 14 February 2006, 5.6 kilograms of ivory product with an estimated value of $16 800 were seized from an unclaimed baggage

In February 2006, officers at the Airport seized 5.6 kilograms of ivory product from an unclaimed baggage.

On 2 March 2006, 106 Indian star tortoises, with an estimated value of $42 400, were seized from an import consignment arriving from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Indian Star tortoises seized from an import consignment in March 2006

On 18 November 2006, 54 kilograms of ivory, with an estimated value of over $30 000, were seized from a Gabonese male arriving from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia via Bangkok.

54 kilograms of ivory seized by officers of the Airport Command.

Marked Oil

The department launched the Voluntary Control Scheme on Sales of Marked Oil for Marine Use (Voluntary Control Scheme) in May 2005 with the aims to suppress the seaborne smuggling of marked oil into the Mainland and prevent marked oil from being re-landed for use as illicit fuel. By means of registering the oil barges delivering marked oil from the oil depots and analyzing their transaction records, the department monitored the overall supply situations of marked oil intended for marine use. A plunge of marked oil sales had been observed since the implementation of the scheme and the phenomenon was virtually the consequence of subsiding smuggling activity.

Parallel to the Voluntary Control Scheme, the department had also conducted special operations to detect and deter the seaborne smuggling of marked oil to the Mainland. In the first quarter of 2006, the department intercepted three fishing boats loaded with excessive marked oil in their enlarged fuel tanks for the purpose of smuggling. As a result, altogether more than 150 000 litres of marked oil were seized and 10 offenders were arrested.

Group Head of the Special Task Force Albert Chan (left) held a press conference after successfully netting over 100,000 litres of unmanifested marked oil in an anti-smuggling operation on 7.11.2006. On the right is the Divisional Commander (Marine Enforcement) Carl Lam.

Fireworks and Explosives

In 2005 and 2006, the department detected respectively 18 and 13 cases of smuggling of fireworks and explosives at various entry and exit points.

It is worth-mentioning that on 8 January 2006, the department intercepted a river trade vessel which arrived from Huangpu, the Mainland for clearance. One container with content declared as “joss paper” was selected for examination. As a result, officers found 6 980 kilograms of assorted fireworks camouflaged with the declared joss paper inside the container. The value of seizures amounted to $1.41 million. Investigation unveiled that the consignment was destined for Taiwan.

6 980 kilograms of assorted fireworks camouflaged with joss paper found inside a container on 8 January 2006.

Strategic Commodities

On 2 April 2006, the department detained a shipment of aircraft at the MTL Terminal. The shipment was conveyed by an ocean-going vessel from Yiantian, the Mainland to Hong Kong. It was later confirmed that the seizure was a non-civil aircraft, a strategic commodity under the Import and Export (Strategic Commodities) Regulations. The value of the seizure amounted to $5 million. Investigation unveiled that the non-civil aircraft had been loaded in Ukraine and would be transshipped to the United States.

The department detained a shipment of aircraft in April 2006.

Anti-smuggling Operation at Sea

In view of the diversified modus operandi in sea smuggling, the department is keen on mounting various operations with a view to detecting and deterring these illicit activities. Some major operations against sea smuggling include:

(a)    Operation “Ballkicker” – A joint operation with Marine Police was organized to combat smuggling activities at sea. Officers mounted observations at black spots with the assistance of high speed pursuit craft (HSPC). Once suspicious vessels were detected, HSPCs would be summonsed for interception.

(b)    Operation “Kitecutter” – In view of the public concerns about freshwater fish consignments imported from the Mainland which might contain malachite green and other harmful substances, a joint operation was mounted by officers of Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Police Force and this department to inspect Mainland freshwater fish in April 2006. During the operation, vessels discharging live or frozen freshwater fish were attended by customs officers to ensure that the fish consignments were covered by import manifests; and by officers of FEHD to ensure that the consignments were accompanied with health certificates.

(c)    “Boat-to-Boat” Operation – Special operations were mounted by officers of Government Flying Service (GFS), Guangdong Customs and this department to combat smuggling activities by "Chung Fei" at sea. Whenever suspected "Chung Fei" were spotted by officers of GFS, they would be referred to this department and Guangdong Customs for actions. During an operation in April 2006, the department seized a batch of optical discs at Mirs Bay in the waters of Hong Kong.