Hong Kong customs officers seize HK$1.45 million worth of donkey skin and sea cucumbers from container arriving from Egypt
- Customs officers inspected a container declared to be carrying table salt that arrived in Hong Kong from Egypt on Thursday
- Donkey hide and sea cucumbers are prized in mainland China for their medicinal values
Hong Kong customs officers on Thursday seized 16 tonnes of donkey skin and 500kg of sea cucumbers from smugglers in a consignment worth HK$1.45 million (US$187,000), the government has revealed.
The Customs and Excise Department uncovered the haul after a spot check of a cargo container originating from Egypt.
“Officers selected and inspected a container declared to be carrying table salt that arrived in Hong Kong from Egypt. The suspected smuggled sea cucumbers and donkey skins were seized,” the department said in a statement.
An investigation is under way.
Smuggling is a serious offence in Hong Kong and carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a HK$2 million fine.
Hong Kong, one of the world’s busiest air and sea cargo hubs, is a hotspot for smuggling, helping fuel the wildlife trade, especially in elephant tusks and shark fin.