Lorry driver convicted and jailed for attempting to export unmanifested cargo and illegally exporting prohibited articles
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Through risk assessment, Hong Kong Customs officers earlier intercepted an outbound lorry declared as carrying express parcels at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. A batch of unmanifested cargo, including 192 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, 276 packets of proprietary Chinese medicine and 1 631 boxes of pharmaceutical products, was found in the driver compartment and the cargo compartment. The total estimated market value of the cargo was about $590,000. The lorry driver was arrested immediately.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence imposes a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
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 upon conviction. Any person who exports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
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/Friday, March 13, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:06
Issued at HKT 16:06
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