Customs hit hard: seized 5 containers worth 240 million goods, 7 people were arrested!

 ^{Customs hit hard: seized 5 containers worth 240 million goods, 7 people were arrested!}

^{On October 20, the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department released the latest communique, revealing the results of intensified anti-smuggling activities by sea in the past week. During the operation, the Department successfully detected two cases involving smuggled cigarettes in sea containers, seizing a total of about 53 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about HK $240 million (HK $) and a dutiable value of about HK $170 million (HK $). Meanwhile, seven captains and crew members have been arrested in connection with the incident.}

^{Of the two cases, the first occurred on the morning of October 18. Through risk management and intelligence analysis, customs officers selected and inspected a 40-foot container arriving from Taiwan for transshipment to Foshan, Guangdong Province, at the inspection yard of Kwai Chung Customs Building. Although the container was declared to be loaded with recycled metal, customs officers found about 11 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the container after inspection. The case is still under investigation.}

^{The second case is even more dramatic. On the morning of 19 October, Customs intercepted a suspicious cargo ship off Tsing Yi. The cargo ship was sailing in the waters near the border between Guishan Island and Lantau Island in Zhuhai, and tried to take advantage of heavy daytime sea traffic and other vessels as cover.}

^{In addition, there are a number of "tanning boats" hired by smuggling syndicates in the nearby waters to try to monitor customs operations. Faced with this situation, the customs sent two high-speed interceptor boats to intercept. However, the freighter suddenly turned 180 degrees and sped away. Customs officers immediately accelerated the pursuit, forcibly boarded the vessel while ensuring safety, took control of the target vessel and conducted a search. In four 40-foot containers on the ship, customs officers seized about 42 million suspected illicit cigarettes and arrested seven non-local men aged between 28 and 51, including a captain and six crew members.}

^{It is worth noting that about 20 million of the seized illicit cigarettes were "white brand cigarettes", accounting for about 40% of the total seized quantity. Criminals will disguise these illicit cigarettes as duty-paid cigarettes and blend them into the market for sale in order to deceive merchants, retail outlets or the public.}

^{Regarding the operation, the Department said that it would continue to intercept smuggling activities at source based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and strive to combat illicit tobacco activities through a multi-pronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and trafficking.}

^{Smuggling is a serious crime. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person who imports or exports unmanifest goods is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Meanwhile, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any person who handles, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.}

^{At present, the case is still under investigation, and it is not ruled out that there will be further arrests. The customs appealed to all sectors of society to actively provide clues and jointly combat smuggling activities.}

 ^{Sunny Worldwide Logistics has more than 20 years of freight forwarding history,and over half of staffs working in Sunny about 5-13years.Emergency solutions must be offered with 30 minutes if any. You may not find other companies like us in Shenzhen.}