Customs officers foiled a smuggling attempt at Sha Tau Kok Control Point yesterday (June 1) and seized about $592,000 worth of smuggled computer hard disks.
About 5.15pm, Customs officers of Sha Tau Kok Control Point intercepted and searched a departing lorry which had been declared empty. They found 988 smuggled hard disks inside a false compartment underneath the lorry.
A 38-year-old male driver was arrested. He has been released on bail at $8,000, pending further investigations.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of "exporting unmanifested cargo" is liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment. The vehicle involved is also liable to forfeiture.
Commenting on the case, a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department stressed today (June 2) that the Customs would continue to conduct rigorous checks at control points to curb the importation and exportation of unmanifested and prohibited goods.
Ends/Wednesday, June 2, 2004