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Clifford Lo

More than three tonnes of imported American ginseng worth about HK$4.6 million (US$591,000) have been seized and five people arrested in what Hong Kong authorities say is the largest bust of its type for a decade.
Police and customs officers swooped on a gang in Lantau Island as it attempted to load the herb hidden in 102 boxes onto a speedboat bound for mainland China, it was revealed on Thursday.
The last seizure of ginseng, which is popular in traditional Chinese medicine, was in 2014 with the consignment weighing less than a kilogram (2.2 pounds).
“Amid the coronavirus outbreak, it is possible there is a high demand of American ginseng on the mainland because people believe it can help boost the immune system,” a law enforcement source said.


Another source said the smuggling operation was designed to evade hefty mainland tariffs of more than 50 per cent.
He said the cargo was valued at HK$4.6 million in the city, but could be sold for more than HK$7 million on the mainland.
Officers began investigating a cross-border smuggling syndicate that became active around Hong Kong’s southwestern waters last week, according to senior inspector Ip Hau-foon from the Marine Police task force.
‘Largest smuggling bust’ as Hong Kong officials seize mainland-bound goods
The joint operation by the Customs and Excise Department and Hong Kong police was mounted on Wednesday night when officers lay in wait off Tung Chung Waterfront Road on Lantau Island.
In the early hours of Thursday, a truck was driven in and boxes of goods were unloaded before the vehicle left.
About three hours later, five men arrived and moved the boxes to a nearby pier before a speedboat with two outboard engines berthed at the pier.
As the five men began unloading the cargo onto the speedboat, officers sprang into action, but the speedboat loaded with several boxes of goods sped away with two smugglers on board.
They got away from two pursuit crafts and left Hong Kong waters, heading towards Shenzhen.
At the pier, officers seized 111 boxes in total. The 3.3 tonnes (3.6 short tons) of ginseng was found in 102 of them. The other nine contained 2,200 cosmetic products such as lipstick with an estimated street value of HK$800,000 (US$103,000).
HK$85 million worth of cigarettes in largest seizure of its kind in 20 years
The five suspects – all Hongkongers aged between 24 and 39 – were arrested for trying to export unmanifested cargo, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and a HK$2 million fine. Four of them are unemployed and the fifth is a goods vehicle driver.
Jonathan Leung Yiu-man, head of Customs’ marine investigation division, said they were investigating the source of the smuggled goods and trying to track down the ringleader of the cross-border syndicate.
Police said the five suspects had been released on bail pending further investigation. The five men are required to report back to police in May.


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Crime

Hong Kong authorities seize tonnes of American ginseng bound for mainland China in biggest bust for a decade

About 3.3 tonnes of imported American ginseng was seized with the arrest of five porters in a joint anti-smuggling operation by police and customs officers in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

HK$85 million worth of illegal cigarettes seized in largest haul of its kind in two decades, as Hong Kong customs intercepts four shipping containers

Hong Kong customs displays the massive haul of cigarettes. Photo: Winson Wong

The Deputy Head of Revenue and General Investigation Bureau, Mr Lee Hoi-man, right; and the Group Head (Ports Control) of Ports and Maritime Command, Ms Aubrey Au,  hold a press conference on the operation at the Cargo Examination Compound, Tsing Yi Customs Station, Tsing Yi. Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette operation yesterday (February 17) and today (February 18), and seized about 31 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 2 500 litres of suspected duty-not-paid liquor with an estimated market value of about $88 million and a duty potential of about $60 million in Yuen Long, Man Kam To and Tuen Mun respectively. This smuggling case represents the largest amount of illicit cigarettes seized by Customs in the past 20 years. During the operation, Customs officers arrested four men, aged between 24 and 41, and detained a truck suspected to be connected with the case as well as five containers arriving in Hong Kong. 18FEB20 SCMP/ Winson Wong

Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette operation yesterday (February 17) and today (February 18), and seized about 31 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 2 500 litres of suspected duty-not-paid liquor with an estimated market value of about $88 million and a duty potential of about $60 million in Yuen Long, Man Kam To and Tuen Mun respectively. This smuggling case represents the largest amount of illicit cigarettes seized by Customs in the past 20 years. During the operation, Customs officers arrested four men, aged between 24 and 41, and detained a truck suspected to be connected with the case as well as five containers arriving in Hong Kong. 18FEB20 SCMP/ Winson Wong

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News

Hong Kong

Law and Crime


Smugglers’ plot to evade mainland taxes foiled by customs, police operation
Source believes traditional medicine herb may be in high demand because of coronavirus outbreak



Smugglers’ plot to evade heavy taxation on mainland foiled. Source believes traditional medicine herb may be in high demand because of coronavirus outbreak.


Crime in Hong Kong

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

Hong Kong authorities seize tonnes of American ginseng bound for mainland China in biggest bust for a decade

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Smugglers’ plot to evade mainland taxes foiled by customs, police operation Source believes traditional medicine herb may be in high demand because of coronavirus outbreak

Smugglers’ plot to evade mainland taxes foiled by customs, police operation

Source believes traditional medicine herb may be in high demand because of coronavirus outbreak