Customs officers yesterday promised a clampdown after a three-fold jump in the number of mobile phones being smuggled into the mainland.
The pledge came after officers found the biggest haul of smuggled mobile phones and parts this year, hidden inside the spare tyre of a lorry bound for the mainland.
The $1.23 million consignment was found after the lorry was inspected by officers at the Lok Ma Chau checkpoint on Monday night. The driver, 43, told officers there were no goods aboard the vehicle and it was bound for Shenzhen.
Officers became suspicious when they found a bald spare tyre under the cargo compartment, said Susanna Koo Ko Sau-ling, divisional commander (operations) for the Customs and Excise Department at Lok Ma Chau checkpoint. She said spare tyres on cross-border lorries were usually in good condition.
A total of 300 new mobile phones and about 600 chargers and batteries were found wrapped in paper inside the tyre.
Ms Koo said the products were made in South Korea and were destined for Shenzhen. Each mobile phone set cost about $3,500 in Hong Kong but could be sold for more than $4,000 on the mainland.
'There is a great demand for mobile phones and other hi-tech products on the mainland as living standards are rising. Mainlanders are now well off and can afford to buy luxury items and the latest models,' Ms Koo said.
