The Macao Customs Service announced in a statement on Sunday that its officers busted 10 smuggling cases at the Barrier Gate, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Macao Port (checkpoint), and Macau International Airport between August 7 and 13.
According to the statement, a total of 53,000 e-cigarettes, 15,000 cigarettes, 600 toy models, 117 used mobile phones, and about 105 litres of Japanese sake were seized, with a total estimated market value of around 470,000 patacas.
During the seven-day period, the statement said, Customs officers at the Macau International Airport passenger arrival inspection area discovered two mainland Chinese travellers who had concealed large quantities of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in their carry-on luggage.
At the HZMB Macao Port (checkpoint)traveller arrival inspection hall, officers found a Macau resident and a Hong Kong resident who had hidden toy models in their personal belongings, the statement said, adding that on the arrival vehicle lane at the checkpoint, officers noticed a suspicious cross-border vehicle driven by another Macau resident. Their suspicion was confirmed as the Macau resident was found to have concealed Japanese sake inside the vehicle in an attempt to smuggle it into Macau.
At the Barrier Gate outbound traveller inspection hall, customs officers discovered two mainland Chinese residents, two Macau residents, and a Hong Kong resident who had hidden used mobile phones in their clothing they were wearing in an attempt to smuggle them out of Macau.
The 10 smugglers are aged between 18 and 50. Customs has initiated legal proceedings against them under the provisions of Macau’s External Trade Law. If the offences are confirmed, they may be subject to a maximum fine of 100,000 patacas each. Two of the smugglers are also suspected of violating the provisions of Macau’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Law, and their cases have been referred to the Health Bureau (SSM) for follow-up action.
This undated handout photo provided by Macau Customs Service on Sunday shows about 105 litres of Japanese sake seized by its officers at the HZMB Macao Port (checkpoint) recently.
