The Macau Customs Service said in a statement on Friday that recently its officers and Public Security Police (PSP) officers jointly clamped down on two parallel trading shops located in Fai Chi Kei, confiscating fish maw and other items worth 170,000 patacas and arresting seven people.

According to the statement, as the National Day holiday is approaching, the customs services from the mainland and Macau continue to investigate parallel trading activities. The statement said that according to intelligence from the mainland, suspicious parallel trading activities were taking place in a commercial building in Fai Chi Kei district. The statement noted that over the past few days, customs and PSP officers put the shops under surveillance and took action on Thursday. The statement underlined that at the scene the officers found 70 kilogrammes of fish maw, 461 vinyl records and CDs, and other items, estimating their retail price to be 170,000 patacas. The statement said that the officers arrested everyone at the scene for questioning.

The statement said that after investigating, there was strong evidence showing that the shops hired illegal workers and used the “ant moving home” strategy – moving items in small quantities – to smuggle the goods into Macau via the Barrier Gate checkpoint.

The statement noted that based on the External Trade Law, the customs officers arrested three people in charge of the shops, an employee and three parallel traders, adding that the suspects could face a fine of up to 50,000 patacas each.

Meanwhile, according to the statement, two illegal workers were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP). The statement said that one of the shop owners and two parallel traders breached regulations on the hiring of non-resident workers, adding that the case has been transferred to the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) for follow-up.

The customs service urged residents and non-resident workers (NRWs) not to engage in parallel trading activities in an attempt to earn extra money as it continues to strictly monitor parallel traders. The statement also said that if anyone wants to report illegal activities, they can call 2896 5001 or email info@customs.gov.mo the Macau Customs Service. 

This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Service on Friday shows bags of confiscated fish maw, vinyl records and CDs from parallel traders.