Macau customs nab 42 including five HK residents in silver smuggling bust

Macau customs have arrested 42 people, including five Hong Kong residents, for allegedly attempting to smuggle about 138 kilograms of suspected silver granules worth approximately 3.01 million patacas out of the territory.

The arrests were made between March 6 and 12 at the Barrier Gate and Qingmao checkpoints. Those detained, aged 16 to 67, included 12 mainland Chinese residents and five Hong Kong residents, customs said.

The suspects allegedly concealed the silver granules in their personal belongings, clothing, and on various parts of their bodies in an attempt to evade detection while leaving Macau.