A 29-year-old local man was intercepted by the Macau Customs Service (SA) on the Macau-side zone of the Hengqin joint checkpoint on Tuesday for attempting to smuggle 386 live lobsters weighing about 370 kg into the mainland using a dual licence plate vehicle, according to a statement by the Customs yesterday.
According to the statement, the customs officers found the vehicle to be suspicious. When searching the vehicle, they discovered a large quantity of suspicious items, stuffed into large black plastic bags, on and under the passenger seat and behind the back seat of the vehicle.
The officers then used a large-scale cargo and vehicle X-ray system to conduct a thorough inspection of the car. The search produced a total of 386 live lobsters weighing about 370 kg in the car, which did not have valid customs declaration papers.
According to the Macau Customs Service, the man involved in the case was intercepted last year by local customs officers for engaging in parallel trading activities.
The suspect has violated Macau’s External Trade Law, facing a fine of up to 50,000 patacas, according to the statement.
This undated handout photo provided by the Macau Customs Service (SA) shows lobsters in black plastic bags placed behind the back seat of a vehicle.
