******************************************************
The Customs and Excise Department (C&ED) yesterday (February 25) smashed a speedboat smuggling case in an anti-smuggling operation at the seashore of Island House Lane, Tai Po. A private car and 22 boxes of high-value electronic goods, including 714 mobile phones, 250 tablet computers, 1 328 computer memory cards, 1 740 USB flash drives and 57 hard disks, with a total value of over $5.8 million were seized.
Officers of the Marine Enforcement Group of Hong Kong Customs last night found several men conveying boxes of goods from a private car onto a speedboat at the seashore at Island House Lane. The officers took immediate enforcement action but the suspects immediately fled with the speedboat.
A total of 22 boxes of electronic goods and the private car were seized at the scene for further investigation.
A C&ED spokesperson said today (February 26) that the department will continue to take stringent enforcement action to combat sea smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of exporting unmanifested cargoes is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:38
NNNN
