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Customs officers of Marine Enforcement Division last (April 16) night seized from a departing Mainland cargo vessel 45 dismantled private cars and vehicle spare parts worth about HK$900,000.
About 10pm, Customs officers intercepted a Mainland vessel off West Lamma Channel, and made the seizure. Since the goods were not covered by export manifest, four Mainland crew members on board the vessel were arrested.
The arrested men, aged between 25 and 29, were detained at Customs Marine Base and would be charged with an offence of attempting to export unmanifested cargo.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department today (April 17) said that the Department would continue to take vigorous enforcement actions against cross-boundary smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious crime. The maximum penalty for the offence is $2 million fine and seven years of imprisonment.
Ends/Monday, April 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:55
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