Gongbei Customs announced in a statement yesterday that its officers seized 25 ornamental fish at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Zhuhai checkpoint on April 8.
According to the statement, on that day, while conducting routine supervision at the mega bridge’s Zhuhai checkpoint, customs officers noticed a driver of a Guangdong-Macau dual plate vehicle who appeared to be visibly nervous.
When intercepting the driver for inspection, the officers found two black insulated bags, one in the driver’s side footwell and the other in the front passenger’s footwell.
Inside the bags were many plastic bags that had been filled with water and each contained a live ornamental fish, totalling 25 fish, the statement said.
The driver admitted to smuggling the fish on behalf of “someone” in exchange for a “transport fee.” Subsequent identification by the Gongbei Customs Technical Centre confirmed that the ornamental fish were all saltwater species, comprising eight different species, including red firefish and emperor angelfish.
In the statement, Gongbei Customs reminded the public that, in accordance with laws and regulations, bringing live animals and plants into the Chinese mainland without approval is prohibited. Those who violate these provisions will be held legally responsible by the authorities.
Macau Customs seizes 4.9 tonnes of frozen beef tripe and chicken feet worth 88,000 patacas
Macau Customs Service officers raided three parallel-trading dens in the peninsula’s northern district on Tuesday where they seized 4,900 kilograms of frozen beef tripe and chicken feet worth 88,000 patacas in total.
According to a statement on Wednesday, the officers caught three male residents aged between 18 and 59 who ran the dens and hired parallel traders to smuggle frozen beef tripe and chicken feet from Macau to the mainland.
The trio each face a fine in compliance with the relevant provisions listed in the External Trade Law, the statement said.
Moreover, the statement added, the trio violated the Food Safety Law as the supposedly frozen beef tripe and chicken feet were stored merely at room temperature, adding that the Customs Service has meanwhile transferred the case to the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) for follow-up action.
Meanwhile, as the business premises in question did not possess a valid operating licence, the case has been referred to the Financial Services Bureau (DSF) for follow-up.
This undated handout photo provided by Gongbei Customs yesterday shows plastic bags filled with water and each containing a live ornamental fish, seized by its officers at the HZMB Zhuhai Port (checkport) on April 8.
This handout photo released by the Macau Customs Service on Wednesday shows the seized frozen chicken feet stored at room temperature at a parallel trading den in the peninsula’s northern district on Tuesday.
