Hong Kong Customs said on 28 June that its officers seized three containers containing smuggled electronic goods and automobile parts with a market value of HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) in an operation codenamed Big Wave.
Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, customs officers discovered that the perpetrators intended to use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods, and then deployed a strategy to target three suspicious containers that were scheduled to be shipped from Hong Kong to Malaysia.
After inspection, a large number of suspected smuggled electronic goods, including circuit boards, smartphones, tablet computers and automobile parts, were placed in the three containers. The containers were respectively declared to contain aluminum sheets, aluminum alloys and communication accessories. Such false declarations are intended to evade hefty export or import duties.
Following investigation, a 60-year-old man suspected to be related to one of the above cases was arrested. The case is still under investigation and the arrested man is currently on bail pending further investigation. More arrests cannot be ruled out, said Hong Kong Customs.
Martina Li
Asia Correspondent
