Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 17) detected a suspected live turtle smuggling case involving an outgoing private car at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and seized 986 live turtles, with a total estimated market value of about $1 million.
      
     Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday intercepted an outgoing private car at the aforementioned control point. Upon inspection, the batch of suspected smuggled live turtles was found in seven black plastic bags placed in the trunk of the vehicle.
      
     A 42-year-old male driver and a 50-year-old male passenger were arrested. They were charged by Customs with one count of attempting to export unmanifested cargo and were charged by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department with one count of cruelty to animals. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (March 19).
      
     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on 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.
      
     Also, according to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), any person who, by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three 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/Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:40

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