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Customs officers of Marine Enforcement Division, in anti-smuggling operation today (March 22) seized nine dismantled vehicles, worth about $180,000, from a departing Mainland cargo vessel off Tap Shek Kok.
Shortly after 1am, Customs officers on board a Customs Sector Launch using radar and a night vision system detected a suspicious Mainland cargo vessel off Tap Shek Kok sailing without navigation lights.
The officers intercepted the vessel and seized nine unmanifested dismantled vehicles on board, foiling an attempt to smuggle the dismantled vehicles onto the Mainland.
Three Mainland crewmen, aged between 29 and 38, were arrested. They will be charged with "attempting to export unmanifested cargo" and "possession on board a vessel a prescribed article without lawful excuse".
The three men will appear in Tuen Mun Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (March 23).
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said the department would continue to take vigorous enforcement action against cross-boundary smuggling activities.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty for the two offences is a $2 million fine and seven years' imprisonment.
Ends/Thursday, March 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:55
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