The Macau Customs Service announced in a statement on Sunday that its officers separately seized 56 kg of silver granules and 27 kg of cigars, worth 1.13 million, from 19 suspects from April 2-9.
According to the statement, during the eight-day period, customs officers intercepted separately nine Macau residents, two Hong Kong travellers and six travellers from Chinese mainland after acting suspiciously at the Barrier Gate’s departure hall’s inspection area.
Upon inspection, customs officers discovered that they had concealed silver granules in various places, such as concealed within everyday items, personal belongings and clothing, or wrapped around different parts of their bodies, to smuggle them into Zhuhai.
During the same period, customs officers at the passenger inspection area of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Macau checkpoint observed a Macau resident and a mainland Chinese traveller appearing visibly nervous.
Upon inspection, customs officers discovered that the two individuals had concealed a total of 27 kilograms of cigars within their luggage to smuggle into Macau.
The statement noted that the ages of the 19 smugglers range from 18 to 70. The Macau Customs Service has initiated legal proceedings against the suspects in accordance with the provisions of the External Trade Law, and they may face a maximum fine of 100,000 patacas each.
Gongbei Customs seizes 440,000 cigarettes at HZMB
Meanwhile, Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs announced in a statement yesterday that its officers seized 440,000 cigarettes at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) on March 25.
According to the statement, that day, customs officers at the delta bridge’s Zhuhai checkpoint noticed an anomaly when checking a lorry.
Upon inspection, officers discovered 2,200 cartons of cigarettes, containing a total of 440,000 cigarettes, concealed within the lorry using various layers of carboard boxes and wooden boards.
Gongbei Customs identified the seized brands in the statement, including “Double Happiness”, “Chunghwa” and “Huanghelou”.
Gongbei Customs reminded the public that in line with the Chinese mainland’s Tobacco Monopoly Law the Central People’s Government has implemented a monopoly management system for the production, sale, import, and export of tobacco products, operating under a tobacco monopoly licence system. The export of cigarettes requires approval from the administrative department under the State Council in charge of the tobacco monopoly and the acquisition of a licence granted by the monopoly.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Service on Sunday shows silver granules concealed inside a “VIRJOY” moist hand wipes.
This undated handout photo provided by Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs yesterday shows cigarettes seized by its officers at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Zhuhai checkpoint on March 25.
