Hong Kong Customs Seizes $20 Million in Suspected Smuggling Case Involving Ocean-Going Vessel

Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case with seizure of $20 million goods involving ocean-going vessel

Hong Kong Customs detected a suspected smuggling case involving an ocean-going vessel on April 13. Large batches of suspected smuggled goods with a total estimated market value of about $20 million were seized.

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, Customs discovered that criminals intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods. Strategies were thus formulated to crack down on the related activity.

Customs on that day selected a container that was scheduled to be shipped to Australia and declared as carrying laundry baskets for inspection. Upon examination, Customs officers found large batches of suspected smuggled goods, including 810 000 cigarettes, electronic appliances, furniture, pet supplies and toys.

An investigation is ongoing. The likelihood of arrests is not ruled out.

Being a government department primarily responsible for tackling smuggling activities, Customs has long been combating various smuggling activities at the forefront. Customs will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, and carry out targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to disrupt relevant crimes.

Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, 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.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

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 detects smuggling case with seizure of $20 million goods involving ocean-going vessel Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case with seizure of $20 million goods involving ocean-going vessel Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects smuggling case with seizure of $20 million goods involving ocean-going vessel Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Company and its director fined $52,000 for contravening Employment Ordinance

NM Foods Logistics Limited and its director were prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violating the requirements under the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company and its director pleaded guilty at the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (April 20) and were fined a total sum of $52,000. The company and its director were also ordered to pay an employee concerned an outstanding sum of about $87,000.

The company wilfully and without reasonable excuse contravened the requirements of the EO, failing to pay an employee's wages within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of the employment contract, as well as annual leave pay within the statutory time limit, totalling about $87,000. The company also failed to pay the awarded sum of about $87,000 in total to the employee within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT). The director concerned was prosecuted and convicted for his consent, connivance or neglect in the above wage and default award offences.

"The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers, directors and responsible officers of companies that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO, as well as the sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," a spokesman for the LD said.

"The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

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