Customs officers foiled a smuggling attempt at Man Kam To Control Point this afternoon (August 16), resulting in the seizure of $1.05 million worth of unmanifested digital cameras and the arrest of a 39-year-old male driver.
At 12.45 pm, Customs officers intercepted a medium goods vehicle which was about to depart for Shenzhen from Hong Kong via the Man Kam To Control Point. The vehicle was declared to be conveying 48 cartons of integrated circuit and transparent polythene sheet.
Apart from the goods declared, Customs officers uncovered after examination about 350 smuggled digital cameras concealed in two carton boxes that were placed in the innermost part of the cargo compartment.
The driver was immediately arrested. He will later be charged with "attempting to export unmanifested cargo" under the Import and Export Ordinance.
Any person found guilty of "attempting to export unmanifested cargo" is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. The smuggled goods are liable to forfeiture.
In 2004, 74 digital cameras were seized in a case of attempting to export unmanifested cargo at Man Kam To Control Point.
Ends/Tuesday, August 16, 2005