Hong Kong Customs on September 21 mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the southern waters of Hong Kong and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a fishing vessel. About 1 100 kilograms of suspected smuggled live lobsters and 400kg of chilled seafood with an estimated market value of about $4 million were seized.

     In the anti-smuggling operation conducted in the waters off the east of Tau Lo Chau that night, Customs spotted a suspicious fishing vessel on which several men were suspected of participating in smuggling activities. Customs officers immediately intercepted the fishing vessel and seized the batch of suspected smuggled live lobsters and chilled seafood on board.
 
     During the operation, six men, aged between 26 and 65, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

     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) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
 

Ends/Saturday, September 23, 2023
Issued at HKT 13:00

NNNN