The Macau Customs Service announced in a statement on Monday that its officers at the Barrier Gate and Qingmao checkpoints arrested 46 smugglers attempting to smuggle 112 kilogrammes of silver granules and bars worth 2,200,000 patacas.
According to the statement, between February 21 and last Thursday, customs officers at the Barrier Gate and Qingmao checkpoints noticed that 27 Macau residents, 18 mainlanders and a Hong Kong resident were acting suspiciously.
Upon inspection, the officers discovered that the 46 smugglers had concealed a total of 112 kilogrammes of silver granules and bars in their clothing and belongings, in an attempt to smuggle them into the Chinese mainland.
The ages of the 46 smugglers range between 26 and 78. The Macau Customs Service has initiated legal proceedings against the suspects in accordance with the External Trade Law. They face a maximum fine of 50,000 patacas. Furthermore, any seized goods will be declared forfeited to the local government.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Service on Monday shows eight packs of silver granules seized by its officers at the Macau-Zhuhai Qingmao pedestrian checkpoint recently.
