Hong Kong Customs and Excise have made their first major maritime smuggling bust for 2021, with more than HK$4 million worth of illicit wildlife products being seized. According to authorities, the contraband was destined for Shekou, Guangdong, and included dried shark fins and seahorses, likely to be derived from endangered species. One possible explanation for the timing of the trafficking was that “the goods were meant to meet the demand for high-end products in mainland China ahead of Lunar New Year”.

On the evening of Thursday (7th January), the Hong Kong Police and Custom Officers engaged in a joint operation, waiting at the Nim Wan Road waterfront near Ha Pak Nai Tsuen in Lau Fau Shan. Officers arrived at the site earlier than their intel since timing was crucial in order to stop illegal activities as it only took a matter of minutes for speedboats to arrive at the maritime border between Hong Kong and Mainland China.

Shortly afterwards in 1.30am, four men were found loading boxes of goods from a vehicle onto the speedboat. Three of the suspects jumped onto the speedboat and sped off when the officers revealed themselves and attempted to initiate arrest. They were soon intercepted approximately 100m from the shoreline. A local man was also arrested in the early morning of 8th January in connection to the smuggling. Officers seized 77 sacks of drief shark fins, eight boxes of dried seahorses and one box of red wine, along with more boxes of electronic components and pain relief patches.

The 39-year-old driver was arrested on a suspicion of attempting to export unmanifested cargo, which is an offence that carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and a HK$2 million fine under section 6D(4)(b) of the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60). He is currently being held for questioning and has not been charged.

Separately, on 7 January 2021, Customs Officers at the airport’s cargo terminal seized more than one tonne of suspected endangered sharks fin in an air consignment from the Philippines. The haul had an estimated value of HK$750,000. The case was handed over to AFCD for follow-up investigation.

Importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence in Hong Kong carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a HK$10 million fine.

Courtesy of Marco Poon

Main Source: SCMP