Hong Kong Customs detects three smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels with goods worth about $23.6 million seized (with photos)
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Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Customs thus formulated enforcement operations.
In the first case, three suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Malaysia via ocean-going vessels were selected for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including over 11 000 hair curlers, hair dryers, hair straighteners and hair brushes from the three containers, which were declared as carrying parts of vacuum cleaners.
In the other two cases, two suspicious containers scheduled to depart from Hong Kong to Australia via ocean-going vessels were selected for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including about 2.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, as well as electronic products, household products and cosmetic products from the two containers, which were declared as containing plastic films, mattresses and storage racks; and ceramic ornaments, trolleys and mattresses respectively.
Investigations on the three cases 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 fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt 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/Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:56
Issued at HKT 18:56
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