Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 12) seized 714 eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species, with an estimated market value of about $10 million, at Hong Kong International Airport.
A 26-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Thailand yesterday (December 12). He was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrivals hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of bird eggs inside three paper boxes in his carry-on baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the bird eggs were suspected to be endangered species listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and regulated under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong.The man was subsequently arrested by Customs officer.
The arrested man was charged with illegal import of an Appendix II species. He will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on December 15.
Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person importing, exporting or possessing specimens of endangered species not in accordance with the Ordinance commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction with the specimens forfeited.
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).
Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
