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Two arrested as customs seize smuggled goods worth HK$11m on river trade boat
A man and a woman were arrested as customs busted a smuggling case in the western waters of Hong Kong and seized goods, including beef jerky and frozen sea cucumbers worth about HK$11 million, on a river trade boat.
During an anti-smuggling operation on Tuesday (Apr 4) afternoon, officers intercepted a river trade boat heading towards Macao in the waters southward of Lantau Island.
There were nine crew members and 49 containers onboard, and officers’ suspicion was raised after they found water condensing by the edges of two containers, reportedly loaded with red wine and sneakers.
Upon investigations, officers found those two containers belonged to a newly established logistic company and suspected the river trade boat was used for smuggling.
The boat was then escorted to the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal for further inspection. As officers removed the red wine and sneakers placed by the door of two containers, they found a large batch of smuggled goods, such as notebook computers, electronic parts, chilled pork stomach, beef jerky, and frozen sea cucumbers.
Customs seized over 5.5 tons of pig offal, 2.5 tons of beef jerky, 2.5 tons of sea cucumber, and a large batch of notebook computers and relevant components valued at about HK$11 million.
Customs also arrested a 43-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, both suspected to be connected with the case.
An investigation is ongoing, and the two arrestees have been released on bail pending further investigation. Customs said they might make more arrests.
Customs added they would keep up their enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities.
They reminded the public that smuggling is a serious offense and anyone found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo could face a maximum HK$2 million fine and seven years imprisonment.
There were nine crew members and 49 containers onboard, and officers’ suspicion was raised after they found water condensing by the edges of two containers, reportedly loaded with red wine and sneakers.
Upon investigations, officers found those two containers belonged to a newly established logistic company and suspected the river trade boat was used for smuggling.
The boat was then escorted to the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal for further inspection. As officers removed the red wine and sneakers placed by the door of two containers, they found a large batch of smuggled goods, such as notebook computers, electronic parts, chilled pork stomach, beef jerky, and frozen sea cucumbers.
Customs seized over 5.5 tons of pig offal, 2.5 tons of beef jerky, 2.5 tons of sea cucumber, and a large batch of notebook computers and relevant components valued at about HK$11 million.
Customs also arrested a 43-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, both suspected to be connected with the case.
An investigation is ongoing, and the two arrestees have been released on bail pending further investigation. Customs said they might make more arrests.
Customs added they would keep up their enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities.
They reminded the public that smuggling is a serious offense and anyone found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo could face a maximum HK$2 million fine and seven years imprisonment.
