Marine Police seized $10 million worth of smuggled goods

Marine Police arrested nine persons and seized $10 million worth of suspected smuggled goods off Ninepin Group yesterday (October 27) morning during an anti-smuggling operation.

At about 9.30 am yesterday, officers of the Small Boat Division spotted several suspicious vessels in the vicinity of Ninepin Group.

Police sped to the area between North and South Ninepin Islands and found a cargo vessel from which a number of fully laden speedboats were seen fleeing.

Officers then signaled the speedboats to stop but they accelerated and disappeared after rounding Mirs Point. The cargo vessel with nine Hong Kong men onboard was intercepted for inspection near South Ninepin Island.

A large quantity of suspected smuggled goods in 844 cartoon boxes comprising computer hard disks, mobile telephones and other electronic goods were found onboard the cargo vessel, with an estimated value of some $10 million.

The nine men, aged between 18 and 54, were arrested for attempting to export unmanifested cargo after failing to produce valid documents for the goods.

The case has been taken over by the Customs and Excise Department for further investigation.


Add Police Report No.4

Issued by PPRB

END/Saturday, October 28, 2006