The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department yesterday (November 24) seized about 1 800 suspected smuggled hairy crabs, weighing about 550 kilograms, and about 3 700 kg of meat and poultry, with an estimated market value of about $520,000 at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port.

     Based on risk assessment, Customs intercepted an incoming goods vehicle declared as carrying a batch of cross-boundary merchandise including food items at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Upon inspection, the batch of suspected smuggled hairy crabs, meat and poultry were found inside the container. 

     The seized hairy crabs did not come with health certificates issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting economies, and failed to comply with the requirements of the Shell Fish (Hairy Crab) Permit. The meat and poultry seized also came without health certificates issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin or obtaining prior permission in writing from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). The batch of suspected smuggled hairy crabs, meat and poultry were handed over to the FEHD for follow-up investigation.

     Customs reminds members of the public that 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.

     According to the Imported Game, Meat, Poultry and Eggs Regulations, any person who imports game, meat, poultry or eggs should produce a health certificate issued by an issuing entity from the place of origin or obtain prior permission in writing from the FEHD. Offenders are liable on conviction to a fine of $50,000 and six months’ imprisonment.

     Customs also reminds the trade not to import or put on sale hairy crabs with an unknown origin, and consumers should make purchases at reputable shops with the Shell Fish (Hairy Crab) Permit or relevant written permission granted by the FEHD.

     According to the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction. Moreover, under the Food Safety Ordinance, any person who, without reasonable excuse, does not register but carries on a food importation or distribution business commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 21) mounted an anti-smuggling operation at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a cross-boundary private car. About 194 kilograms of unmanifested live lobsters with an estimated market value of about $240,000 were seized.

     Customs yesterday intercepted an outbound seven-seater private car which was claimed to have nothing to declare at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port. Upon inspection, a total of 10 boxes of unmanifested live lobsters, weighing about 194kg, were seized in the mid row passenger seats and boot of the car. A 46-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.

     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.

     Customs will continue to combat smuggling activities by use of cross-boundary private cars with firm enforcement action based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis.

     Members of the public may report any suspected smuggling activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

     ​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 14) detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 11 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $12 million.

     A 51-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Sint Maarten via Paris, France, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cocaine concealed inside the interlinings of the cushions and the back of his check-in electric wheelchair. The man was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).

     ​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 1) detected a passenger drug trafficking case at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 950 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1 million.
 
     A 26-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, via Doha yesterday. During customs clearance, about 950g of suspected cocaine were found concealed inside the false compartment in his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

     An investigation is ongoing.

     Following the resumption of normal travel and exchanges with the Mainland and other parts of the world, the number of visitors to Hong Kong has also been increasing steadily. Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
 
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 29) seized about 7 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $5.5 million in Tsing Yi and one man was arrested.
      
     Customs yesterday inspected an express parcel, which was declared as carrying a transformer, arriving from the Mainland at an express courier service centre in Tsing Yi. After inspection, Customs officers found about 7kg of suspected cocaine was concealed inside the transformer. Customs officers subsequently mounted a controlled delivery operation today (August 30) and arrested a 21-year-old man receiving the parcel suspected to be connected with the case in Tai Po.
      
     An investigation is ongoing.
      
     Customs reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people, nor to release their personal data or home address to others for receiving parcels or goods.
      
     Customs will continue to maintain close contact with Hongkong Post and the logistics industries to step up action against drug trafficking through postal parcel or express courier channels.
      
     Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).