Hong Kong Customs Seizes Suspected Illicit Motor Spirits and Cigarettes, Arrests Local Man on Speedboat

Hong Kong Customs detects case of suspected illicit motor spirit and cigarettes

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 28) intercepted a speedboat in the waters south off Cheung Chau and seized 240 litres of suspected illicit motor spirit and 34 suspected illicit cigarettes. During the operation, one local man was arrested.

Customs yesterday afternoon identified a suspicious speedboat that entered Hong Kong waters at a high speed across the southern water boundary. Customs officers swiftly took action and intercepted the speedboat. Upon inspection, the batch of illicit motor spirit was contained in 12 jerry cans while 34 illicit cigarettes were found in the cockpit, with a total estimated market value of about $6,200 and a duty potential of about $1,500. One local man aged 49, suspected of violating the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), was arrested.

Under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit motor spirit or cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment for illicit motor spirit, and $2 million and seven years' imprisonment for illicit cigarettes.

Members of the public may report any illicit fuel or 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).

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 28) intercepted a speedboat in the waters south off Cheung Chau and seized 240 litres of suspected illicit motor spirit and 34 suspected illicit cigarettes. During the operation, one local man was arrested. Photo shows the suspected illicit motor spirit and suspected illicit cigarettes seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species

Hong Kong Customs detected a case involving a passenger smuggling endangered species at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) on June 27 and seized 777 eggs of suspected scheduled endangered bird species, with an estimated market value of about $10.9 million.

A 27-year-old Chinese male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Thailand on June 27. He was intercepted for Customs clearance at the arrival hall of HKIA. Customs officers found the batch of bird eggs concealed in metal boxes inside 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 Appendices of 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 case has been handed over to the AFCD for follow-up action. Hong Kong Customs reminds the public not to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong.

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