This photo shows some of the suspected smuggled goods seized during Hong Kong Customs' special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy" on Dec 11 and 12. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Customs officials in Hong Kong detected two suspected cases of smuggling involving ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods to the mainland.

The market value of the contraband goods seized at Tsing Yi Container Terminal on Dec 11 and 12 has been estimated to be about HK$200 million ($25 million), Hong Kong Customs said in a statement on Wednesday.

A large batch of goods, including expensive food ingredients, electronic goods, vinyl records, table wines, medicine and scheduled endangered species, was seized in a special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy", according to the statement.

This photo shows some of the suspected smuggled electronic goods seized during Hong Kong Customs' special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy" on Dec 11 and 12. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Through intelligence analysis and risk assessment, the officials discovered early this month that criminals may use ocean-going vessels to smuggle goods to the mainland and then formulated strategic enforcement operations. 

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Two ocean-going vessels prepared to depart from Hong Kong to Shanghai were successfully identified, the statement added.

Customs officers identified for inspection eight containers declared as carrying plastic materials and four containers declared as carrying household products on board the two vessels, and found inside nine containers a large batch of suspected smuggled goods.

This photo shows some of the suspected smuggled vinyl records seized during Hong Kong Customs' special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy" on Dec 11 and 12. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The goods included about 22 tonnes of expensive food ingredients such as dried shark fins, dried fish maws and dried sea cucumbers, over 140,000 electronic goods, about 70,000 pieces of vinyl records, about 9,000 bottles of table wines, about 4,000 boxes of medicine and scheduled endangered species. 

After follow-up investigations, Customs officers arrested five men aged between 38 and 54 suspected to be connected with the cases, according to the statement.

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This photo shows some of the suspected smuggled expensive food ingredients seized during Hong Kong Customs' special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy" on Dec 11 and 12. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

“Investigation is ongoing. The five arrested persons have been released on bail pending further investigation and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out,” said Hong Kong Customs.

Hong Kong Customs said it will keep up its enforcement action and continue to fiercely combat sea smuggling activities through proactive risk management and intelligence-based enforcement strategies, along with mounting targeted anti-smuggling operations at suitable times to land a solid blow against relevant activities.

This photo shows some of the suspected smuggled table wines seized during Hong Kong Customs' special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy" on Dec 11 and 12. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

This photo shows some of the suspected smuggled medicine seized during Hong Kong Customs' special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy" on Dec 11 and 12. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

This photo shows some of the suspected smuggled scheduled endangered species seized during Hong Kong Customs' special enforcement operation codenamed "Convoy" from Dec 11 and 12. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

“Smuggling is a serious offense. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of HK$2 million and imprisonment for seven years,” Hong Kong Customs said.

Moreover, any person who imports or exports pharmaceutical products and medicines without a valid license commits an offense. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of HK$500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

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The Customs also reminded residents that under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a license is liable to a maximum fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment for 10 years.