Hong Kong customs seizes HK$170 million of smuggled items from cargo containers

Hong Kong customs authorities have seized HK$170 million (US$21.84 million) worth of smuggled items including computers and watches from two ocean-going vessels heading to Indonesia and Malaysia.

The operation was launched following intelligence analysis and risk assessment, which indicated that criminal syndicates were planning to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods out of Hong Kong.

Investigators subsequently targeted four cargo containers scheduled to depart for Indonesia and Malaysia, Ada Wong Wing-yan, an investigator with the Customs and Excise Department’s syndicate crimes investigation bureau, said on Thursday.

Officers inspected two of them bound for Indonesia on September 18. The shipments were declared as carrying computer accessories, watch parts and tally counters.

Another two containers, declared as refined lead and destined for Malaysia, were examined on September 26.

X-ray scans revealed large batches of suspected smuggled goods hidden inside, inspector Lau Tsz-yan of the department’s ports and maritime command said.