Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled dried seafood (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (November 12) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary private car. A batch of suspected smuggled dried seafood, including about 57 kilograms of dried sea cucumber, 28kg of dried fish maw and 2.2kg of bird nest, with a total estimated market value of about $1.13 million was seized.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday intercepted an outbound private car which was claimed to have nothing to declare at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, and seized the batch of suspected smuggled dried seafood at the boot of the vehicle. A 38-year-old male driver was arrested and was charged with one count of attempting to export unmanifested cargo.

     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.

     Customs will continue to combat smuggling activities by use of cross-boundary private cars with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     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).