Customs and Marine Police launched a number of anti-smuggling operations in Sai Kung waters over the past week or so. Yesterday morning (24/7), they cracked two cases of suspected smuggling of cigarettes by speedboat. A total of about 3 million suspected smuggled cigarettes were seized, with a market value of about HK$13.85 million and a dutiable value of about HK$10.18 million. A 34-year-old mainland man was arrested during the operation.
Customs officers spotted two suspicious speedboats off Sai Kung yesterday morning. When they attempted to intercept them, the speedboats sped away into the waters east of Hong Kong. During the pursuit, the crew repeatedly threw cargo overboard, and the two speedboats eventually escaped Hong Kong waters. Customs later recovered 292 boxes of suspected smuggled cigarettes from the sea.
Subsequently, officers intercepted another suspicious speedboat in the eastern waters, seized 16 boxes of suspected illicit cigarettes, and arrested a 34-year-old mainland man on the spot. They also impounded a speedboat. A total of approximately 3 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized during the operation.
Earlier in the week police suspected smuggling activities in the waters of Lung Kwu Tan and Sai Kung recently. Following in-depth investigation and intelligence analysis, the Marine Police Regional Task Force, the Outer District Task Force, the Western Marine Division, and the Eastern Marine Division, together with officers from the Customs Maritime Operations Bureau, conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the relevant waters on the morning of 22 July. They cracked two cases, seizing approximately 4.5 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated total market value of approximately HK$20.3 million and a dutiable value of approximately HK$14.9 million. Two suspected lorries were also impounded.
During the operation, officers discovered three speedboats without navigation lights near Lung Kwu Tan and Sai Kung Nam Wai, respectively. Several men were seen unloading goods from the speedboats onto trucks on the shore. Officers immediately took action to intercept the men attempting to escape on the speedboats. However, all three speedboats ultimately fled the western and eastern waters of Hong Kong, heading towards the mainland. The case is currently under further investigation by Customs officers.
Marine police, in conjunction with customs, cracked two smuggling cases, seizing approximately 4.5 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated total market value of HK$20.3 million and a dutiable value of approximately HK$14.9 million.
(Reports and photos provided by Hong Kong Police Force)
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