Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case involving ocean-going vessel and goods worth about $140 million (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel destined for the Philippines on September 26. A large batch of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $140 million was seized.

     Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods and thus formulated strategies to combat related activities.

     On September 26, Customs officers identified an ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong for the Philippines for inspection and seized a large batch of suspected smuggled items, including new tyre rims, red wine, game consoles, CPUs and electronic products inside two containers which were declared as carrying plastic protective travelling cases and plastic tableware respectively aboard the vessel.

     An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

     Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities 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, with targeted anti-smuggling operations carried out at suitable times to disrupt these 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 upon conviction.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).