Hong Kong customs seizes HK$170 million of smuggled Philippines-bound smart devices

Hong Kong customs officers have seized HK$170 million (US$22 million) in smuggled mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches from two separate shipments destined for the Philippines.

A source said on Friday the contraband products were from Chinese brands Honor and Tecno. He added the final destination of the two consignments after landing in the Philippines might have been mainland China.

The Post has learned that the seized items were possibly made in Southeast Asian countries and were subject to mainland tariffs of about 13 per cent.

“Up to HK$22 million in tariffs could have been evaded if the two shipments had been successfully smuggled to the mainland,” Inspector Ong Siu-fung of customs’ syndicate crimes investigation bureau said.

The two shipments were discovered last month during an ongoing crackdown on cross-border smugglers using ocean-going vessels to transport contraband products.

The two cargo containers declared to be carrying plastic protective casings were selected for inspection on September 24 before being loaded onto the same Manila-bound oceangoing vessel at a Kwai Chung shipping terminal.