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Hong Kong Customs yesterday (September 13) smashed a syndicate involved in the smuggling of nickel and mobile phone parts into the Mainland, hidden in altered axles of container trucks.
Officers seized 3,600kg of nickel and 7,200 LCD displays for mobile phones. The total seizure amounted to $2.6 million.
Customs officers launched one operation in Lok Ma Chau and another in Yuen Long.
About 9.30am, Customs officers intercepted a departing container truck, declared to be carrying no goods. They found 500kg of nickel hidden inside a false compartment in the rear axle gear compartment of the tractor as well as the hollowed-out trailer axle. A 42-year-old male driver was arrested.
Customs officers also raided a workshop at Tong Yan San Tsuen, Yuen Long, about noon.
They found a batch of dismantling equipment, and a large quantity of goods suspected to be for smuggling. The goods included 3,100kg of nickel and 7,200 LCD displays for mobile phones. Customs officers seized two altered trailer axles, and detained a container tractor and an empty container. Two men, aged 41 and 42, were arrested.
All those arrested are on bail pending further investigation.
The Group Head (Intelligence Co-ordination), Mr Sin Wai-sun, said that in view of huge demand for nickel on the Mainland, the syndicate attempted to profit from smuggling by evading Mainland import duty.
Comparing to 2006, this year had seen an increase in Customs' seizures of nickel. So far in 2007, Customs have cracked three cases, seizing 4,807kg of nickel, worth $1.39 million.
In 2006, there were five cases involving seizure of 1,281kg of nickel, worth $310,000.
The Divisional Commander (Lok Ma Chau (Operations)), Mr Benson Lee said the department will continue its stringent enforcement against smuggling.
"Through intelligence analysis and risk management, coupled with the help of detection equipment and Customs detector dogs, Customs are able to effectively combat cross-boundary smuggling activities," he said.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, anyone found guilty of smuggling will be liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Friday, September 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:37
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