Hong Kong customs seizes HK$23.6m smuggled goods in three container ship cases
Hong Kong customs busted three smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels this month, seizing suspected smuggled goods worth about HK$23.6 million. The cases target containers bound for Malaysia and Australia, with items including hair tools, electronics and cigarettes.
Hong Kong customs has cracked three smuggling cases involving ocean-going vessels this month, seizing a large batch of suspected smuggled goods with an estimated total market value of about HK$23.6 million. The customs department is still investigating the cases and did not rule out the possibility of arrests.
In the first case, customs officers targeted three suspicious containers originally departing from Hong Kong and destined for Malaysia via ocean-going vessels. After inspection, officers found a large quantity of suspected smuggled goods inside the three containers, which were declared to be carrying vacuum cleaner accessories. The haul included more than 11,000 items such as curling irons, hair dryers, straighteners and combs.
In the other two cases, customs officers targeted two suspicious containers originally departing from Hong Kong and bound for Australia via ocean-going vessels. After inspection, officers discovered large quantities of suspected smuggled goods inside the two containers, which were declared to be carrying plastic film, mattresses and storage racks, as well as ceramic decorations, trolleys and mattresses. The seized items included about 2.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, electronic products, household goods and beauty products.
Customs said the three cases involved a total of five containers and the seized goods were worth about HK$23.6 million. The department is continuing its investigations and did not rule out further arrests.