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Hong Kong Customs smashed again a suspected case of smartphones smuggling by a seven-seater private car at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday (September 26). A total of 71 smartphones of latest-models, including 67 iPhone 6 and four iPhone 6 Plus, and 60 used phone monitors with a total value of about $0.4 million were seized.
Customs officers intercepted an outgoing seven-seater private car for inspection at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday afternoon. Upon inspection, the smartphones and phone monitors were found being concealed behind the storage compartment of the front passenger seat and inside the space underneath the handles of the two front doors respectively. The 31-year-old driver was arrested and put on bail pending investigation. The private car was seized for further examination.
Within the past five days (September 22-26), Hong Kong Customs smashed a total of three cases of suspected smuggling of the latest smartphones by cross-boundary vehicles with a total seizure value of about $2 million. These included a case of suspected smuggling of smartphones by a seven-seater private car at Shenzhen Bay Control Point on September 24, and another case of suspected smuggling of latest smartphones and integrated circuits by false compartment of a container truck at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on September 22.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty for attempting to export unmanifested cargo is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Saturday, September 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:01
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