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Customs officers of Man Kam To Control Point yesterday (February 18) seized a seven-seater vehicle and 817 pieces of smuggled electronic goods.
The electronic goods, including 680 hard disks and 137 digital cameras, were concealed inside a spare tyre and the two altered front doors of the vehicle. The seizure was worth about $951,000.
Shortly before 9pm, Customs officers intercepted a departing seven-seater vehicle. After X-ray scanning, the officers found the smuggled goods in a spare tyre and the concealed compartments of the two altered front doors.
A 41-year-old local male driver and two passengers, including a local man and a Mainland man, were arrested. They are on bail pending Customs investigation.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department reminded the public that Customs officers, using advanced equipment, would stay vigilant and continue to take vigorous enforcement action against cross-boundary smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty respectively for ˇ§attempting to export unmanifested cargoˇ¨ and ˇ§altering the fittings, fabric or structure/making use of the altered fittings, fabric or structure of any vehicle for the purpose of smugglingˇ¨ is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:12
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