Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled auto parts and electric guitar strings (with photos)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 11) seized 53 suspected smuggled auto parts and 672 suspected smuggled electric guitar strings with an estimated market value of about $220,000 at Shenzhen Bay Control Point and in Yuen Long. This is the first smuggling case to have adopted an "ants moving home" tactic using a private car as temporary storage.

     Customs officers intercepted an outgoing private car at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday afternoon and seized 15 auto parts on board the vehicle.

     After follow-up investigation, Customs officers further seized 38 auto parts and 672 electric guitar strings from a private car parked at a car park in Yuen Long.

     In the operation, a 36-year-old man was arrested and two private cars were detained.

     Investigation is ongoing.

     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).