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Customs officers of the Lok Ma Chau Control Point foiled three smuggling attempt cases within 15 minutes last (Sunday) night and seized 11 left-hand-drive vehicles, totally worth about $1.3 million, from three outgoing container trucks.

Acting on information and after a series of investigations, the officers stopped three departing container trucks at about 9:35 pm. In the three separate cases, the drivers claimed themselves carrying "Polyester Yarn" with a valid Export Notification. As a result, the Customs officers uncovered a total of 11 left-hand-drive vehicles on board the three container trucks and arrested the three drivers, aged 31 to 37.

An intensive follow-up investigation by investigators of the General Investigation Division of the Customs Intelligence and Liaison Bureau led to the arrest of a 33-year-old man, alleged to be the consignor of the three shipments.

Any person, who is charged with "attempting to export unmanifested cargoes" and "attempting to export prohibited article without a licence" under the Import and Export Ordinance, is liable to the maximum penalties of a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Upon summary conviction, the accused is liable to the maximum penalties of a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

Last year, Customs officers seized 81 left-hand-drive vehicles, totally worth $30.3 million and arrested 27 suspects.

The officers have so far this year seized 14 left-hand-drive vehicles and arrested eight people.

The Customs will continue to exert their utmost effort in thwarting Hong Kong-Mainland smuggling activities at the boundary crossing points, by developing substantial intelligence, by maintaining effective liaison networks with local and overseas counterparts and by exchanging information with their Mainland counterparts.

End/Monday, March 22, 1999

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