Customs busts three ocean-freight smuggling cases
Bastillepost · 3 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Customs said on October 21 that it had uncovered three suspected smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels during October, with suspected smuggled goods worth about HK$23.6 million seized. The shipments were intercepted after intelligence analysis and risk assessment, and the cases remain under investigation with arrests not ruled out.
Key Points
- In the first case, officers targeted three suspicious containers scheduled to leave Hong Kong for Malaysia by ocean vessel.
- Those three containers were declared as carrying vacuum cleaner parts, but officers found more than 11,000 suspected smuggled curling irons, hair dryers, straighteners and combs inside.
- In the other two cases, Customs examined two containers due to be shipped from Hong Kong to Australia by ocean vessel.
- The two Australia-bound containers were declared as plastic film, mattresses and storage racks, and ceramic decorations, trolleys and mattresses respectively.
- Seized goods from those two containers included about 2.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, electronic products, household goods and beauty products.
Why It Matters
The cases show Customs is continuing to focus on maritime cargo routes using intelligence-led enforcement and risk management to intercept undeclared goods before export. Under Hong Kong's Import and Export Ordinance, importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is a serious offence punishable on conviction by a maximum fine of HK$2 million and seven years' imprisonment.