Marine Police, Customs foil smuggling attempt in Tung Chung; $450,000 in phone parts seized

Hong Kong Marine Police and Customs officers intercepted a suspected smuggling operation in Tung Chung on Wednesday night, seizing around 5,600 mobile phone components worth an estimated HK$450,000.

Police said they had earlier received intelligence suggesting smuggling activities were taking place in northern Lantau near Tung Chung. Following investigation and intelligence analysis, officers from the Marine Police Small Boat Division and the Customs Marine Joint Task Force launched an anti-smuggling operation at Yu Tung Road.

At around nightfall, officers spotted a suspicious speedboat with its navigation lights switched off approaching the shoreline. Two electric three-wheel carts also arrived at the scene, and several men were seen loading cargo from the carts onto the vessel.

As officers moved in, the men immediately jumped onto the speedboat and sped off toward Sha Lo Wan. Marine Police gave chase, but the vessel fled beyond Hong Kong’s southwestern waters and headed inland toward mainland waters.

Officers later seized approximately 5,600 mobile phone parts of various brands along the shoreline, as well as the electric tricycles involved in the operation.

The case has been handed over to the relevant departments for further investigation.