Hong Kong Customs seized about 73 300 kilograms of suspected Dalbergia cochinchinensis wood logs from three containers at the Tsing Yi Customs Cargo Examination Compound and Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on July 26 and 28. The value of the seizure was about $10 million.
Customs officers selected three 20-foot containers arriving from Thailand and declared to contain wood timber for inspection through risk assessment and found that the wood logs were suspected to be from an endangered species.
The wood logs were seized by Customs officers for further investigation.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $5 million and imprisonment for two years.
Ends/Tuesday, August 2, 2016
