Smuggling

The department detected 232 smuggling cases, arrested 358 persons for
smuggling offences and seized contraband worth $204 million,
representing a 54 per cent decrease as compared with 1996.

Smuggling between Hong Kong and the Mainland was still serious,
particularly smuggling by sea. Popular items smuggled from China
included cigarettes, diesel oil, fake video compact discs and compact
discs, live pigs and meat. Contraband commonly discovered being
smuggled to the Mainland included left-hand drive vehicles, vehicle spare
parts, hi-tech electronic goods, mobile phones, film products and
audio-visual equipment. The department intercepted several stolen vehicles
smuggled into Hong Kong from Japan, Taiwan and the USA for re-export
to the Mainland. A total of 129 vehicles valued at $40.7 million was
seized. Close liaison is maintained with the police and overseas law
enforcement agencies for the exchange of intelligence and this has
contributed considerably to successful operations against smuggling.
Close contacts with Customs authorities in the Mainland have also yielded
encouraging results.

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