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Prompt action taken by Customs officers of the Marine Enforcement Division resulted in the seizure of 50 dismantled private cars and vehicle spare parts, worth a total of about $1 million, from a departing Mainland cargo vessel off West Lamma Channel last night (March 17).
About 9pm, Customs officers intercepted a vessel off West Lamma Channel, and made the seizure after a chase. Since the goods were not covered by an export manifest, four Mainlanders -- crew members of the vessel -- were arrested.
The arrested men, aged 27 to 35, were detained at Customs Marine Base and will be charged with smuggling offences.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (March 18) stressed that the department would continue to take vigorous enforcement action against cross-boundary smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious crime. The maximum penalty for the offence is a $2 million fine and seven years' imprisonment.
Ends/Saturday, March 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:21
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