Customs' first-ever conviction of money laundering by means of cross-boundary transportation of large quantity of currency and bearer negotiable instruments by passengers

******************************************************************************************

     Two local women were convicted of "dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence" (commonly known as money laundering) of about HK$280 million of proceeds of crime by means of cross-boundary transportation of large quantities of cash to Hong Kong, in contravention of the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO), and were sentenced to 58 months' and 36 months' imprisonment respectively at the District Court today (May 7). This is the first-ever conviction of money laundering by means of cross-boundary transportation of large quantities of currency and bearer negotiable instruments by passengers since the Cross-boundary Movement of Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments Ordinance came into operation in July 2018.

     The two defendants were found to have frequently transported a large quantity of cash to Hong Kong via boundary control points between 2018 and 2019. Follow-up investigations revealed that they were suspected to have dealt with a total of about $280 million of proceeds of crime. Customs arrested the duo at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point in September 2019 and formally charged them with four counts of money laundering in April 2023.

     Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of money laundering offences.

     Under the OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly represents any person's proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years, while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the above-mentioned ordinance 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/Thursday, May 7, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:42

NNNN

Archives Yesterday's Press Releases

Back to Index Page

Today's Press Releases