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Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 30) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the New Territories and smashed a suspected smuggling syndicate. Five container tractors, 13 trailers with false compartments and a large number of electronic goods were seized in a fenced cargo yard in Tuen Mun and at Sha Tau Kok Control Point. The seizure was estimated to be worth more than $14 million.
Customs officers intercepted five outbound container tractors with 40-foot or 45-foot trailers declared to be empty at Sha Tau Kok Control Point yesterday morning. A large haul of electronic goods, including 1 430 smart phones, 300 smart phone boards, 5 000 central processing units and 5 000 computer RAMs, worth over $11 million, were found concealed in the false compartments of the axles of the trailers. Another eight 40-foot trailers and a large batch of electronic products, including 4 000 central processing units and 5 400 computer RAMs worth about $2.7 million, were found during a subsequent search of the fenced cargo yard in Tuen Mun. A total of 14 men, aged between 24 and 64, suspected to be the mastermind and other members of the syndicate, were arrested. Investigation is continuing.
A Customs spokesman said today (July 31) that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Ends/Thursday, July 31, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:30
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