Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 15) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the western waters of Hong Kong and detected a suspected smuggling case involving speedboats. A batch of suspected smuggled goods with an estimated market value of about $12 million was seized. 

     Customs officers conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the waters near Tung Chung and spotted a suspicious speedboat sailing towards the Tung Chung Development Pier with its navigation lights off last night. A light goods vehicle then arrived near the pier and the male driver together with three men immediately moved the goods from the vehicle onto the speedboat. They were suspected of participating in smuggling activities. Customs officers swiftly took action and the four men jumped onto the speedboat and fled to Mainland waters immediately.

     Customs officers then detained the light goods vehicle and seized 38 carton boxes of smuggled goods, including mobile phones, tablet computers, bird's nest, dried sea cucumbers, dried deer tails, accessories and other electronic goods. 

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs stressed that it will keep up its enforcement action and will continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to land a solid blow against relevant activities.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, 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/Friday, December 16, 2022
Issued at HKT 14:27

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