Lorry driver convicted and jailed for attempting to export unmanifested cargo and prohibited articles not under and in accordance with export licence
A lorry driver, aged 59, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (November 3) for attempting to export unmanifested cargo and prohibited articles not under and in accordance with a licence, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO) (Cap. 60).
Through risk assessment, Hong Kong Customs officers earlier intercepted an outbound lorry declared as carrying hair clips at the Lok Ma Chau Control Point. A batch of unmanifested cargo, including 240 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, 96 tablets of pharmaceutical products, 100 blood collection tubes, three mobile phones and 120 tablets of health products, with an estimated market value of about $830,000, was found in the cargo compartment.
Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence imposes a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the IEO, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction. Any person who exports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid licence commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Lorry driver convicted and jailed for attempting to export unmanifested cargo and prohibited articles not under and in accordance with export licence Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
