Customs officers seize shipment of protected wood worth HK$1.8 million at Hong Kong port
- The seizure of nearly three tonnes of endangered red sandalwood, or ‘red gold’ as it’s known, was the second since April, and the 14th since 2009
- The container carrying the timber originated in South Korea, and was bound for the mainland
More than 2.8 tonnes of rare protected wood valued at HK$1.8 million (US$232,000) was found hidden in a shipping container on its way from South Korea to mainland China, Hong Kong customs officials said on Tuesday.
The container, which was declared to be carrying wood, was selected for inspection based on a risk assessment by officers from the ports control group after it arrived in the city recently, according to the Customs and Excise Department.
When the container was opened at the Kwai Chung cargo examination compound on Monday, “customs officers found the batch of suspected red sandalwood inside the container”, the department said in a statement.
The case was handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up investigation. No arrests have been made so far.
Red sandalwood, known as “red gold” due to its high value, is often used for making luxury furniture and carvings.
It is listed as endangered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Importing or exporting endangered wood without a permit carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a HK$10 million fine.
Hong Kong customs officers seize HK$5.5 million worth of endangered red sandalwood bound for mainland China
The bust was the second major seizure of red sandalwood by customs officers in the past three months. In April, more than seven tonnes of red sandalwood valued at HK$5.5 million were found concealed inside furniture in two shipping containers from India. That consignment was also bound for mainland China.
The latest haul was the 14th batch of smuggled red sandalwood intercepted by customs since 2009, with seizures totalling 185 tonnes of the wood with an estimated value of more than HK$100 million. The largest bust consisted of 41 tonnes of the hardwood confiscated in 2009.
Customs urged members of the public to report suspected smuggling activities to its 24-hour hotline at 2545 6182.
