Nine men arrested for smuggling $10M contraband goods (with photos)

Marine Police arrested nine men and seized a large quantity of contraband goods worth over $10 million on board a Hong Kong cargo vessel at Clear Water Bay in Sai Kung yesterday (July 18).

At about 11.45 am yesterday, Marine Police's Small Boat Division (SBDIV) and Regional Task Force mounted an anti-smuggling operation and spotted on radar five speed boats passing south of the Ninepin Group heading for Clear Water Bay.

The speed boats were later found berthing alongside a cargo vessel loitering at Clear Water Bay and crew members of the cargo vessel began unloading boxes from the vessel to the speed boats.

Upon seeing Marine Police's boats, the speed boats fled away at high speed towards Trio Island. With the assistance of the helicopter of Government Flying Services, the speed boats were later seen at Tuen Tsui heading Mirs Point and finally left Hong Kong waters.

Officers of SBDIV intercepted the cargo vessel off Clear Water Bay. Nine Hong Kong men aged between 19 and 56 were found on board the vessel. The men were arrested for assisting in the export of unmanifested cargo after failing to produce a valid manifest.

The vessel was towed to Marine East Divisional base for detailed search. A large quantity of contraband goods comprising industrial sewing machines, MP3 players, cameras, LCD monitors, computer hard disks, notebook computers and semiconductors worth over $10 million were found packing inside 500 boxes.

The case has been handed over to Customs and Excise Department for further action.


Police Report No. 3
Issued by PPRB

End/Thursday, July 19, 2007