Hong Kong Customs detects suspected gold-smuggling case by air worth about $7.5 million (with photos)

     Hong Kong Customs on August 1 detected an air freight suspected gold-smuggling case, and seized about 12 kilograms of suspected gold with an estimated market value of about $7.5 million, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

     Based on risk assessment, Customs on that day examined an air cargo consignment, declared as carrying bags, sweaters, garments and documents, and departing for Japan, at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound at HKIA. Upon inspection, Customs officers found a batch of undeclared ozone generators and seized the batch of suspected smuggled gold, which was moulded and camouflaged as transformer parts, inside the transformers of the ozone generators. 

     The investigation is still ongoing. 

     Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement actions against all kinds of smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).