Hong Kong customs makes record HK$1.5 billion seizure of smuggled goods, mostly electronics, bound for mainland China via Singapore
- Haul includes HK$1.2 billion worth of new integrated circuits, according to Customs and Excise Department
- Smugglers could have avoided more than HK$600 million in tariffs if all the goods had reached their destination
Hong Kong customs officers have seized HK$1.5 billion (US$191.5 million) worth of smuggled goods destined for mainland China via Singapore in its largest haul yet.
Among the massive seizure of goods stashed in 15 shipping containers were more than 1 billion new integrated circuits estimated to be worth about HK$1.2 billion, the Customs and Excise Department revealed on Monday.
Other seized goods in the June 13 case included HK$230 million worth of used electronic products such as motherboards, mobile phones, laptops, and computer and phone accessories, as well as power adaptors.
“We don’t rule out that the used products would have been dismantled or refurbished [after reaching the final destination]. Chemicals are required in the process, resulting in the production of harmful substances to the environment,” said Senior Superintendent Rita Li Yim-ping of customs’ syndicate crime investigation bureau.
She said criminals tried to smuggle such goods into the mainland because of stringent import restrictions imposed by authorities.
Customs officers also confiscated 25 tonnes of dried seafood such as shark fin, sea cucumber and fish maw, as well as shark skin from endangered species. Those goods were valued at about HK$50 million.
Other illegal goods uncovered included 20,000 bottles of wine, mainly red wine from Australia and France, worth HK$4 million, along with 27,000 CDs and vinyl albums valued at HK$8 million.