A driver was sentenced to six months' imprisonment today (December 3) at Fanling Magistrates' Courts for using a school bus carrying cross-boundary students to smuggle gold, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO). This is the first gold smuggling case involving a cross-boundary school bus detected by Hong Kong Customs.

     Customs officers intercepted an incoming school bus carrying cross-boundary students at Man Kam To Control Point on September 28, 2017. Twelve gold bars weighing about 12 kilograms with an estimated market value of about $4.2 million were found concealed inside an altered structure near the front door of the bus. The 59-year-old male driver was then arrested.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the IEO, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

Ends/Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Issued at HKT 16:14

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