Scrap metal cargo hid HK$4m of superbikes
Customs' suspicions lead to huge seizure of big-name motorcycles and the arrest of suspected mastermind behind a smuggling syndicate
PUBLISHED : Saturday, 10 January, 2015, 3:08am
UPDATED : Saturday, 10 January, 2015, 3:08am
Clifford Lo [email protected]
The 65 motorbikes found in shipments from Melbourne and Sydney included Harley-Davidsons, BMWs and Suzukis. Photo: Sam Tsang
Customs officers believe they have smashed a Hong Kong-based smuggling syndicate after intercepting a huge haul of big-name and high-performance motorcycles hidden in three containers sent from Australia.
It was the biggest discovery of its kind for more than a decade, with 65 motorbikes worth a total of more than HK$4 million seized. The bikes included American Harley-Davidsons, European brands such as Ducati and BMW, and Japanese bikes such as Kawasaki and Suzuki. One of them packed nearly 200 horsepower.
Two Hongkongers have been arrested.
Suspicions were aroused on December 13 when a container arrived from Melbourne that was said to contain scrap metal - an unusual cargo to come from Australia.
"It was selected for inspection because it is rare that scrap metal arrives from Australia," said Hui Wai-ming, group head of the Customs and Excise Department's syndicate crimes investigation bureau.
Inside, officers found 20 motorcycles and 111 tyres.
The container was then delivered as originally instructed to a Yuen Long container yard, where a 29-year-old man was arrested on December 20 when he arrived to pick up the goods.
A few days later, when his boss, the 46-year-old owner of a trading company in Yau Ma Tei, was subsequently arrested, customs officers believed they had captured the mastermind behind a smuggling syndicate.
Follow-up investigations led to the other 45 motorcycles being found in two other shipments from Sydney and Melbourne. Another 82 tyres were also among the haul.
Hui said: "The motorcycles are second-hand, but they all appear to be in good condition and serviceable."
He added: "It is the biggest seizure of its kind in a decade."
Hui said the department would be working with Australian authorities to help follow up the case.
Initial investigations suggested that none of the bikes seized had been reported stolen in Australia.
A source close to the investigation said yesterday: "The consignment is worth about HK$4.2 million and we believe the syndicate would have pocketed about HK$1 million if the bikes had reached their intended destinations.
"We believe the motorcycles were bound for the mainland and other Southeast Asian countries, where there is a big demand for luxury and high-performance sports bikes on the underground market."
The two Hong Kong suspects arrested last month have now been released on bail pending further investigations.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty for importing unmanifested cargo is seven years in jail and a fine of HK$2 million.
