Hong Kong smashes suspected smuggling of iPhones

Hong Kong Customs said on Saturday that it foiled an attempt of smartphones smuggling by a seven-seater private vehicle at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on Friday.

Customs officers intercepted the outgoing vehicle for inspection at Shenzhen Bay Control Point Friday afternoon.

A total of 71 smartphones of latest-models, including 67 iPhone 6 and four iPhone 6 Plus, and 60 used phone monitors with a total value of about 400,000 HK dollars (about 51,612.9 US dollars) were found being concealed in the car.

The 31-year-old driver was arrested and put on bail pending investigation. The private car was seized for further examination.

Within the past five days, Hong Kong Customs smashed a total of three cases of suspected smuggling of the latest smartphones by cross-boundary vehicles with a total seizure value of about two million HK dollars.

These included a case of suspected smuggling of smartphones by a seven-seater private vehicle at Shenzhen Bay Control Point on Sept 24, and another case of suspected smuggling of latest smartphones and integrated circuits by false compartment of a container truck at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on Sept 22.

Under the Import and Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty for attempting to export unmanifested cargo is a fine of two million HK dollars and imprisonment for seven years. (1 US dollar = 7.75 HK dollars)