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Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 16) smashed a transshipment smuggling case at Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound and seized record high illicit tobacco weighing 5339 kilograms and valued at about $4 million with a duty potential of around $2.23 million.
Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs identified and selected two 40-foot transshipment containers from a river trade vessel for examination. The containers were declared as containing "hinge/drawer slideway" and "screw/drawer lock" and would be transshipped to Macau. Upon inspection, 5339 kilograms of illicit tobacco were found at the inner parts of the two containers being camouflaged with assorted general cargoes. The unmanifested tobacco were seized for follow-up investigation.
Infringements of the following ordinances will lead to penalties:
(1) Contrary to the regulations of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, importing goods to which the Ordinance applies is liable to a maximum fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years;
(2) importing unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years under Import and Export Ordinance.
Ends/Friday, May 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:12
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