Macao Customs Services officers seized 42 kg of food that was not declared and inspected at Hengqin Port (checkpoint) in separate cases from two drivers on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
According to a statement on Wednesday, customs officers at the checkpoint intercepted a cross-border vehicle through the risk management system on Monday. Upon inspection, customs officers discovered the driver had attempted to smuggle yogurt, cooked food rolls, sandwiches, fruit, and other food items into Macau without declaring them. All the food items are subject to health quarantine, the statement noted.
On Tuesday, through the risk management system, customs officers intercepted another cross-border vehicle, the statement said, adding they discovered that the driver attempted to smuggle large quantities of fruit juices and frozen foods into Macau, some of which were subject to health and quarantine inspections.
In the statement, the Customs Service identified the two smugglers as a 39-year-old male from the Chinese mainland and a 67-year-old local resident.
The Customs Service has initiated proceedings against the smugglers under the provisions of the External Trade Law. If the offences are confirmed, the offenders may be subject to a maximum fine of 100,000 patacas and the seized goods will be declared forfeited to the local government. The drivers are also suspected of violating the relevant provisions of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Control Regulation, adding that the case involving non-quarantined cooked food has been transferred to the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) for follow-up.
These two undated handout photos provided by the Macao Customs Service on Wednesday shows around 42 kg of food and drink seized by its officers at Hengqin Port (checkpoint) in separate cases from two drivers on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
