Customs officers seized about 27,700 litres of unmanifested marked oil, worth about $150,000, in an anti-smuggling operation yesterday (April 16).
Yesterday evening, Customs Marine Enforcement Group officers intercepted a departing local fishing vessel in the waters off Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun, for inspection and uncovered unmanifested marked oil from a suspected altered fuel tank.
Three men, including the captain and two crewmen aged between 35 and 45, were arrested. They will be charged with attempting to export unmanifested cargo and will appear in the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 18).
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (April 17) stressed that the department would continue to take vigorous enforcement action against smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. The vessel involved may also be confiscated.
Ends/Friday, April 17, 2009
