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Customs officers of Man Kam To Control Point yesterday (May 26) foiled a suspected smuggling attempt and seized $1.34 million worth of computer hardware.

They also arrested a 38-year-old male driver in connection with the case.

While examining an outgoing lorry declared to be empty at the Man Kam To Control Point, Customs officers found 1,585 computer hard disks and 1,420 pieces of computer memory chips in a false compartment underneath the vehicle. The driver was immediately arrested.

A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said today (May 27) that the arrested man had been released on bail and the case had been handed over to the Customs Control Points Investigation Division for follow-up investigations.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty on summary conviction of attempting to export unmanifested cargo could be fined $500,000 and jailed for two years; or on conviction on indictment, could face a fine of $2 million and seven years' jail.

End/Tuesday, May 27, 2003

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