Smuggled pork and poultry worth about $261,700 was seized at Man Kam To last night (October 13).
In a joint operation conducted by Hong Kong Customs and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Customs officers intercepted and searched an incoming lorry about 8.45pm. They found 6,312 kilograms of fresh pork, 3.6 kilograms of frozen chicken and 2.25 grams of frozen paddy rice birds inside the lorry's cargo compartment.
The 41-year-old male driver was arrested when could not produce a valid official certificate issued by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.
The man has been released on $5,000 bail. He will appear at the Fanling Magistrates' Court tomorrow morning (October 15) to face charges under the Import and Export Ordinance and the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.
Any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargo under the Import and Export Ordinance is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years; or on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment.
Under the Imported Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, it is an offence to bring into Hong Kong any meat and poultry without an official certificate. The maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Ends/Thursday, October 14, 2004