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Customs officers yesterday (October 10) seized 634,800 unmanifested VCDs, worth $12.7 million from a local fishing vessel that was leaving for the Mainland.
Six Mainlanders, aged 31 to 47, including the captain and five crewmen, were arrested. They will be charged with "attempting to export unmanifested cargo" under the Import and Export Ordinance.
At 11pm yesterday, Customs officers of Ports and Maritime Command intercepted a local fishing vessel in waters off Magazine Island.
They seized the VCDs from concealed compartments in the engine room and crew space.
Initial investigation showed that the VCDs, to be sold in Mainland market, were not counterfeits.
Divisional Commander (Marine Enforcement), Mr Lam Chi-Keung, today (October 11) stressed that Customs would continue vigorous enforcement against cross-boundary smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of attempting to export unmanifested cargo could be fined up to $2 million and jailed for seven years. The vessel involved will be confiscated.
Ends/Thursday, October 11, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:45
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