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Hong Kong customs seize 24 tonnes of wood from Honduras in HK$2.4 million smuggling case

Officers looking into where consignment of Honduras rosewood hidden in shipping container was headed

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The wood was probably intended for use in the manufacture of high-end furniture. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong customs officers have seized nearly 24 tonnes of high-value wood from endangered trees – estimated to be worth about HK$2.4 million (US$305,800) – hidden in a shipping container that arrived in the city from Central America.

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This incident, involving suspected Honduras rosewood, is the third wood-smuggling case reported in the city this year. 

Logs weighing a total of 23,800kg were discovered on Thursday when customs officers opened the container for inspection at the Kwai Chung Customhouse cargo examination compound. 

“Customs officers inspected a container arriving in Hong Kong from Honduras. Upon inspection, customs officers found the suspected Honduras rosewood in the container,” the Customs and Excise Department said in a statement issued on Friday.

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Officers are looking into where the consignment was headed. No one has been arrested.

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