Hong Kong Customs Seizes Suspected Endangered Reptiles Worth About $173,800 at Airport; Man Arrested for Illegal Importation

Hong Kong Customs seizes reptiles of suspected scheduled endangered species

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport.

A 31-year-old incoming local man arrived in Hong Kong from the Netherlands via Shanghai yesterday. He was intercepted for customs clearance at the arrival hall of the airport. Customs officers found the batch of reptiles inside his check-in baggage. Upon inspection by officers of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the batch of reptiles was 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 officers. The case was handed over to the AFCD for follow-up investigation.

The arrested man will be charged by the AFCD with one count of illegal import of an Appendix II species and one count of cruelty to animals.

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.

Also, according to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169), any person who, by wantonly or unreasonably doing or omitting to do any act, causes any unnecessary suffering to any animal commits an offence and will be liable to a maximum fine of $200,000 and imprisonment for three 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 yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the turtles of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the lizards of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the lizards of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized seven snakes, 19 lizards and five turtles of suspected endangered species, with a total estimated market value of about $173,800, at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo shows one of the snakes of suspected endangered species seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to eight months' imprisonment and fined $2,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (November 6) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 39-year-old Mainland female passenger and a 37-year-old Mainland male passenger arriving in Hong Kong from Tokyo, Japan, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (November 5) and seized about 62 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $310,000 and a duty potential of about $205,000, from their personal baggage. The two passengers were subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes 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 illicit cigarette 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).

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases