Two men were apprehended at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Customs Zhuhai checkpoint while attempting to smuggle 223 kilograms of European elk tails to the mainland, according to a statement from Gongbei Customs.
According to the statement, customs officers were patrolling the inbound passenger vehicle channel at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge around 8 a.m. on May 18 when they discovered several large black holdalls covered with cloth in the boot of a Guangdong-Hong Kong licenced car. The bags felt unusually cold to the touch. During the inspection, the driver appeared nervous and attempted to obstruct the process. Customs officers then seized 124.07 kilograms of frozen meat with grey-brown fur from the boot.
On the same day, while patrolling the same channel, customs officers suspected another Guangdong-Hong Kong licenced car. They discovered numerous cold black holdalls hidden in the boot. Upon inspection, they seized 98.95 kilograms of frozen meat with grey-brown fur.
In the statement, Gongbei Customs reminded the public that according to the “list of animals and plants and their products and other quarantine items prohibited from carrying or mailing into the [mainland of] People’s Republic of China,” both raw and cooked meat including organs and their products are strictly prohibited from entering the Chinese mainland. Furthermore, evading customs supervision by hiding, disguising, concealing, falsely reporting, or using other means to transport goods that are prohibited or restricted is considered smuggling. If the circumstances are severe enough to constitute a crime, the smuggler will face criminal liability.
This undated handout photo provided by Gongbei Customs shows the frozen European elk tails.
