Hong Kong customs seizes HK$200 million in smuggled shark fins, electronic waste, arrests 6 linked to 3 cases
- Official says electronic waste for disposal was in past illegally intended for mainland China, but stringent control has forced smugglers to look to other destinations
- Separate haul with shark fins shipped to Macau but uncovered after being sent back to city
Hong Kong customs has seized about HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) worth of smuggled goods ranging from shark fins to electronic waste in 27 shipping containers in the past two weeks.
The Customs and Excise Department on Friday said five directors of five trading companies were among six people arrested in connection with the raids earlier this month.
In two of the three cases, authorities found HK$178 million worth of used electronic products and components, as well as vehicle parts, concealed in 25 shipping containers on May 3 and 10.
The two consignments were intercepted at a Kwai Chung container terminal before they could be loaded on two Malaysia-bound ships, according to Superintendent Raymond Cheng tak-hei of customs’ syndicate crimes investigation bureau.
He said about two-thirds of the cargo, weighing more than 200 tonnes, was electronic waste and the remainder comprised used products likely to be refurbished and resold.
In February, customs officers seized 13 tonnes of electronic waste along with HK$12 million worth of smuggled goods in a Malaysia-bound sea shipment.
Cheng noted customs had seized electronic waste destined for mainland China in the past. “Amid stringent enforcement actions by mainland authorities against the import of electronic waste, we believe criminals are forced to explore other locations to dispose of such materials,” he said.
He added authorities were still investigating the source of the recent waste and determining whether Malaysia was the final destination of the goods.
He added customs would consult experts from the Environmental Protection Department over the disposal of the electronic waste after the completion of the two cases.
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Customs arrested two men and three women on suspicion of exporting unmanifested cargo – an offence punishable by up to seven years in jail and a HK$2 million fine. The five suspects are directors of five trading companies.
In the third case, customs officers confiscated five tonnes of shark fins from an endangered species along with HK$1 million worth of controlled pharmaceutical products to treat impotence, cancer and dementia from a shipment from Macau.
The haul, stashed in four shipping containers, was delivered to Macau in mid-April. It was declared as dried seafood, pharmaceutical products, electronic goods and cosmetics.
The cargo was intercepted for checks when the consignor sent it back to Hong Kong earlier this month.
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“We discovered five tonnes of shark fins along with controlled pharmaceutical products in two of the containers,” Assistant Superintendent Lui Siu-fai of the same bureau said.
He said an initial examination by experts from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department indicated the shark fins were from an endangered species and had an estimated street value of HK$21 million.
He said smugglers mixed the contraband with genuine products in an effort to avoid detection.
In a follow-up investigation, customs arrested a 34-year-old man linked to the case.
Cheng said it was possible the shark fins and pharmaceutical products were destined for the mainland.
He said shark fins were subject to mainland tariffs of about 80 per cent and smugglers could have evaded HK$14 million in tariffs if the goods were successfully delivered across the border.
All six suspects have been released on bail pending further investigation. More arrests are possible.
The seizures were made in a month-long operation code-named “Clear Sky” to combat sea smuggling activities.
