​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (March 24) mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the northwest waters of Hong Kong and detected a suspected speedboat smuggling case. A batch of suspected smuggled goods with an estimated market value of about $38 million was seized while a light goods vehicle suspected to be connected with the case was detained. 

     Customs officers conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the waters near Tung Chung and spotted a suspicious speedboat sailing towards the Tung Chung Public Pier with its navigation lights off during small hours yesterday. A light goods vehicle then arrived at the pier and a male driver together with seven men immediately moved the goods from the vehicle onto the speedboat. They were suspected of participating in smuggling activities. 

     Customs officers immediately took action and the eight men swiftly jumped onto the speedboat and fled to Mainland waters. During the operation, Customs officers seized 26 cartons of suspected smuggled goods, most of which were electronic parts. Others included bird nest, dried fish maws, suspected pseudoephedrine and WiFi cameras. 

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Customs is the primary agency responsible for the suppression of smuggling activities and has all along been combating various smuggling activities proactively at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to land a solid blow against relevant activities.

     Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

Ends/Saturday, March 25, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:16

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