In response to press enquiries, a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said today (October 24):
In the course of customs clearance, Customs officers seized 200 brand-new shotguns in Kwai Chung today (October 24).
Under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, the import and export, transshipment and possession of firearms is regulated under a licensing system.
The seized goods are being detained for further investigations, while a 45-year-old transportation company director is detained for assisting enquiries.
Initial Police and Customs investigations showed that the seized goods were recorded in the manifest and put inside a 20-foot container. The container was imported from Karachi, Pakistan via Singapore by sea for re-export to Dominican Republic. It arrived in Hong Kong on October 16. So far, there is no indication that the shipment was intended for smuggling or connected with serious crimes or terrorism.
Hong Kong has a comprehensive and stringent licensing control system on the import, export, and transshipment of firearms and ammunition. The transshipment of firearms requires an import/export licence from Hong Kong Police Force.
The present case was detected in the course of cargo clearance. This has once again demonstrated that the present control mechanism of firearms and ammunition in Hong Kong is working well.
Under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, the maximum penalty for dealing in arms or ammunition without a licence is a fine of $100,000 and 14 years' imprisonment.
Ends/Monday, October 24, 2005