Hong Kong News
Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
Real, Diverse, Unbiased.
Eight smugglers flee to China as customs seize illicit goods worth HK$38m
Eight smugglers successfully fled to China during a customs operation early Friday, in which officers seized illicit goods worth HK$38 million, including electronic parts and dried seafood.
Customs mounted an anti-smuggling operation in the northwest waters of Hong Kong in the early hours on Friday and spotted a suspicious speedboat sailing towards the Tung Chung Public Pier with its navigation lights off.
A light goods vehicle then arrived at the pier, and the male driver along with seven men were caught loading the goods from the van onto the speedboat.
Officers suspected they were involved in smuggling activity and immediately took action. The eight men then swiftly jumped onto the speedboat and fled to mainland waters.
Although customs had mobilized two speedboats to try and intercept the smugglers, the smugglers sailed hugging the coastline under the cover of darkness.
The smugglers’ speedboat then sped up to 40 nautical miles an hour and headed westward.
During the operation, officers seized 26 cartons of suspected smuggled goods left behind, most of which were electronic parts. Others included bird nests, dried fish maws, suspected pseudoephedrine and WiFi cameras.
Investigation is ongoing, customs added.
A spokesperson for customs warned that smuggling is a serious offense. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of HK$2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
A light goods vehicle then arrived at the pier, and the male driver along with seven men were caught loading the goods from the van onto the speedboat.
Officers suspected they were involved in smuggling activity and immediately took action. The eight men then swiftly jumped onto the speedboat and fled to mainland waters.
Although customs had mobilized two speedboats to try and intercept the smugglers, the smugglers sailed hugging the coastline under the cover of darkness.
The smugglers’ speedboat then sped up to 40 nautical miles an hour and headed westward.
During the operation, officers seized 26 cartons of suspected smuggled goods left behind, most of which were electronic parts. Others included bird nests, dried fish maws, suspected pseudoephedrine and WiFi cameras.
Investigation is ongoing, customs added.
A spokesperson for customs warned that smuggling is a serious offense. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of HK$2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
