Hong Kong Customs detects two smuggling cases involving river trade vessel and ocean-going vessel with goods worth about $200 million seized (with photo)
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Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, a river trade vessel departing from Hong Kong for Macao was selected for inspection on October 3. Upon examination, Customs officers aboard the vessel found a large batch of suspected smuggled goods, including suspected controlled shark fins, cigars, mobile phones and suspected pharmaceutical products.
Moreover, Customs officers inspected five containers that were scheduled to be shipped to Taiwan and declared as carrying frozen food on October 7 and found 150 tonnes of donkey skin in the five containers upon examination.
Investigations are ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.
Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to resolutely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to crack down on relevant crimes.
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 upon conviction.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Monday, October 27, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:40
Issued at HKT 16:40
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