Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled bird’s nests and suspected pharmaceutical products worth about $7.8 million (with photos)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 20) detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary coach at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and seized a batch of suspected smuggled goods including about 150 kilograms of bird's nests and 710 boxes of suspected pharmaceutical products with a total estimated market value of about $7.8 million.

     Based on risk assessment, Customs yesterday intercepted an outgoing coach at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Upon inspection, Customs officer found the batch of suspected smuggled goods being concealed inside the space underneath the walkway of the coach.
      
     A 52-year-old male driver was arrested. He has been charged for attempting to export unmanifested cargo, attempting to export prohibited articles not under and in accordance with an export licence, possession of poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List and possession of antibiotics. The case will be brought up at the Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 22).

     Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action based on 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. In addition, under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who exports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid export licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Under the Antibiotics Ordinance, any person who possesses any substance to which the Ordinance applies or any preparation of which any such substance is an ingredient or part commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for 12 months.

     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).