On December 9, Hong Kong Customs foiled a major smuggling attempt involving an ocean-going vessel at the Kwai Chung Container Terminals. Customs officers seized 900,000 printed circuit boards (PCBs), valued at approximately HK$70 million (about CNY 65.8 million or $9 million), concealed in two 40-foot containers, which had been falsely declared as containing mixed metals.

Shirley Hu, an investigator with Customs' Syndicate Crimes Investigation Bureau, explained that the circuit boards were the latest models, believed to be intended for civilian use in electronic devices such as tablets and smartphones. Hu further noted that the boards were likely to be transited through Malaysia before being redirected to the Chinese mainland, where there is significant demand for such products.

Had the smuggling attempt succeeded, it would have led to a tax revenue loss of approximately HK$7 million, Customs officials said.

The bust was the result of intelligence analysis and a thorough risk assessment. Customs officers had identified the ocean-going vessel preparing to depart from Hong Kong for Malaysia, and upon inspection, they found discrepancies in the cargo declaration. An X-ray of the vessel revealed goods of varying sizes, raising suspicions of a false declaration.

Attempts to disguise high-value goods, such as circuit boards, as low-value items like metals in import/export declarations are common fraudulent practices that Customs routinely encounters, Hu added.

The investigation is ongoing, and while no arrests have been made yet, Customs officials have not ruled out the possibility of further arrests as the case progresses.

Customs continues to take a strong stance against smuggling, using proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies to target illicit activities. They remain committed to conducting timely and effective anti-smuggling operations, working to disrupt these crimes as they arise.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, individuals found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested goods can face penalties of up to HK$2 million in fines and seven years in prison.