Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 12) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at Lok Ma Chau Control Point and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary goods vehicle. A batch of suspected smuggled goods, including sports shoes, electronic connectors and pharmaceutical products, with an estimated market value of about $560,000 was seized.
During the operation, Customs Officers intercepted an inbound goods vehicle declared as carrying liquid-crystal displays, electronic parts and woven badges and seized the batch of suspected smuggled goods. A 58-year-old male driver suspected to be connected with the case is assisting the investigation.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo, or importing any article specified in Schedule 1 to the Import and Export (General) Regulations without an import licence is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, October 13, 2022
