Hong Kong customs seizes gold disguised as machine parts worth HK$84 million
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Hong Kong customs officers have seized precious metal worth HK$84 million (US$10.7 million) disguised as machine parts in two air compressors in a Japan-bound consignment at the city’s airport. The smuggling operation was designed to evade import tariffs of around 10% in Japan. The gold parts, shaped as two motor rotors, a gear, and three screw shafts, were concealed in the machines’ motors and pumps. The combined weight of the confiscated gold was 146kg. The director of a local company was arrested in connection with the gold-smuggling attempt. This is the biggest seizure of smuggled gold in terms of value and weight since records began in 2000. Customs will exchange intelligence with overseas law enforcement agencies to determine the origin and consignee of the precious metal.
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