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Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-smuggling operation in Lantau Island East this morning (February 7) and smashed a suspected sea-smuggling case off Siu Kau Yi Chau.
Dutiable cigarettes and motor spirit worth about $280,000, with a total duty potential of about $105,000, a fishing vessel and its sampan were seized with the arrest of four people, aged 34 to 60.
In the operation in Lantau Island East, Customs officers of Marine Enforcement Group intercepted a suspicious fishing vessel and its sampan. Upon searching, about 825 litres of illicit motor spirits and about 58,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes were found in the concealed compartments of vessel and the sampan. Three men and a woman were arrested.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any one involved in dealing with, possession, selling and buying of dutiable commodities commits an offence. The maximum penalty on conviction is imprisonment for two years and a fine of $1 million.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement against smuggling activities to protect government revenue.
Members of the public are urged to report any suspected illicit activities involving cigarettes and hydrocarbon oil to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, February 7, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:06
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