Hong Kong Customs detected two air freight smuggling cases of suspected precious metal on October 3 and 16, and seized about 60 kilograms of gold-silver alloy and about 80kg of suspected gold, with a total estimated market value of about $100 million, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

     Based on risk assessment, Customs examined an outbound air cargo consignment, declared as carrying ceramic tea trays departing for Japan, at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound at HKIA on October 3, and examined an outbound air cargo consignment, declared as carrying garment materials, labels and fabric samples departing for Vietnam, on October 16. Upon inspection, Customs officers found 126 gold-silver alloy discs weighing about 60kg in total and three suspected gold cuboids weighing about 80kg in total from the cargo consignments respectively.

     An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against all kinds of smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     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.
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     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/Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:02

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