Customs officers from the Marine Strike and Support Division on Tuesday (April 27) seized $1.6 million worth of smuggled goods from a transshipment container.
During a cargo inspection operation at a container yard at Stonecutters Island on April 27, the officers inspected a container arriving from Huangpu. As a result, they found five smuggled stun guns and several boxes of aphrodisiacs. They also seized a batch of goods bearing suspected forged trade marks and false origin labels, including mobile phone batteries, sports shoes, handbags and facial masks.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said today (April 29), "Preliminary investigations revealed that the goods are destined for Malaysia. No arrests have been made.
"The maximum output of the seized stun guns was 150,000 volts. As the stun guns were not covered by a valid licence, the case has been handed over to the Police for follow-up investigation," the spokesman added.
The spokesman stressed that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty for the offence is a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment.
Under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, the maximum penalty for dealing in arms or ammunition without a licence is a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person importing goods with false trade descriptions or forged trade marks is liable to a maximum fine of $500,000 and five years' imprisonment.
Ends/Thursday, April 29, 2004