Hong Kong customs seizes HK$40 million of smuggled goods bound for Cambodia, Thailand
But authorities suspect Southeast Asian countries were part of indirect routes for contraband ultimately destined for mainland China
Hong Kong customs has confiscated HK$40 million (US$5.2 million) worth of contraband goods, including drones, speakers, watches and electronic products, from two separate shipments ostensibly bound for Cambodia and Thailand, but whose final destinations were suspected to be mainland China.
Inspector Lam Chun-hing of customs’ syndicate crimes investigation bureau said on Tuesday that such goods were commonly smuggled into the mainland and that authorities “have not ruled out the possibility that criminals were using indirect paths in an attempt to avoid customs detection”.
“They ship the goods into Southeast Asian countries and then smuggle the cargo into the mainland,” Lam said.
“Up to HK$5 million in tariffs could have been evaded if the goods had successfully made their way to the mainland.”
According to the Customs and Excise Department, the two shipments were discovered during a crackdown on criminals who use ocean-going vessels to transport contraband products.
The two shipments were found on October 2 when two cargo containers were selected for inspection before being loaded onto separate vessels at the international shipping terminal in Kwai Chung.
One of the containers was destined for Thailand and declared to be carrying clothing. The other was bound for Cambodia and declared to be carrying kitchenware.
