Hong Kong makes record seizure of smuggled goods

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Hong Kong on Monday revealed a record-breaking seizure of smuggled goods worth HK$1.5 billion ($191.6 million).

The goods included electronics, wine, music CDs and vinyl records and dried seafood, according to a government statement.

Customs officials in the semi-autonomous region said the discovery was made when officers uncovered a hidden cache, initially declared as paper pulp, concealed within 15 cargo containers aboard an ocean-going vessel at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals earlier this month.

Authorities suspect that the goods were to be transported to mainland China via Singapore.

"The criminals employed a more intricate and costly strategy, disguising popular items as paper pulp, shipping them to Singapore, and then promptly redirecting them back to mainland China. Their aim was to divert attention and elude scrutiny from law enforcement,” said Rita Li Yim-ping, head of the syndicate crimes investigation bureau at Hong Kong Customs.

A 45-year-old shipping company manager has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the smuggling operation.

"An investigation is ongoing. The arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out," said the statement.