Zhuhai Gongbei Customs announced in a statement yesterday that a mainlander attempted to smuggle HK$1,445,000 in cash into the mainland via Macau’s Barrier Gate checkpoint, exceeding the official maximum amount of cash that a traveller is permitted to carry when entering the mainland.
Gongbei Customs announced the case, which was detected on Saturday, in a statement yesterday, adding that the suspect surnamed Luo did not submit a customs declaration when entering the arrivals hall on Zhuhai side of the administrative border.
According to the statement, on Saturday at 6 a.m., Luo was intercepted by customs officers while entering Zhuhai through the “Green Channel” at the Gongbei checkpoint passenger inspection hall. Customs Officers noticed he had not put his black bag through X-ray screening and immediately conducted an inspection.
The statement said that after inspection, the black bag was found to contain large bundles of Hong Kong dollars in cash, totalling HK$1,445,000 (1,489,000 patacas)
Gongbei Customs reminded the public that a large amount of cash is a restricted entry and exit item. Passengers entering and exiting the mainland are required to follow the national regulations and take the initiative to declare the amount of cash exceeding 20,000 yuan or its equivalent in non-mainland currency they are carrying. Any traveller violating the regulations faces a fine.
HK driver attempted to smuggle 216 iPhones
Meanwhile, a HK driver has been caught trying to smuggle 216 iPhones into Zhuhai via the Zhuhai checkpoint of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Gongbei Customs announced in a separate statement.
According to the statement, on June 27 at noon, customs officers at the Zhuhai checkpoint of the delta bridge intercepted a Hong Kong single-plate vehicle during a routine inspection after noticing three suspicious tins of paint hidden deep in the boot and the driver’s unusually nervous behaviour.
The statement said that X-ray scans detected anomalies in the tins, leading to the discovery of 216 used mobile phones – all vacuum-sealed in waterproof film – concealed inside the tins containing paint.
In the statement, Gongbei Customs reminded the public that according to relevant regulations, evading customs supervision by hiding or bringing goods subject to taxes into the mainland constitutes smuggling. If the circumstances are severe enough to constitute a crime, criminal liability will be pursued.
This undated handout photo provided by Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs yesterday shows HK$1,445,000 in undeclared cash seized by the Zhuhai Gongbei checkpoint’s customs officers.
This undated handout photo provided by Zhuhai’s Gongbei Customs yesterday shows 216 iPhones seized by the HKZM Bridge Zhuhai checkpoint’s customs officers.
