Smuggling fruit, a large amount of cash and old mobile phones, Macao Customs prosecuted 4 people.

　　BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) According to the website of the Macao SAR Government, Macao Customs recently seized cases of smuggled fruits, a large amount of cash and smart phones at the Macao Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Taipa Passenger Terminal respectively, and four people involved were prosecuted by Macao Customs according to law.

　　On June 3rd and 8th, respectively, the customs officers of Macao Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge seized two cases of fruit smuggled into China by vehicles through the "risk management system" and manual sampling. Two Macao vehicles from Hong Kong were seized by customs officers, including litchi, cherry, raisin, honeydew melon and loquat, with a total weight of over 160 kg.

　　The drivers involved in both cases are Macao residents, claiming that the fruits were purchased from Hong Kong for retail and personal use. Macao Customs has handed over the relevant cases and the fruits seized without quarantine to the Urban Services Department for handling. The Customs reminded that bringing fruits into Macao must comply with the regulations on personal consumption to avoid prosecution.

　　In addition, on June 7th and 8th, Macau Customs intercepted two passengers who chose the green channel (no need to declare the channel) at the entry inspection area of Taipa Passenger Terminal, and seized a large amount of cash and a large number of old smartphones respectively.

　　On June 7, customs officers found a large amount of cash in the backpacks carried by passengers, and the total amount was verified to be HK$ 3.5 million after counting. The next day, when the customs officers inspected a suspicious-looking inbound passenger, they found 80 old smartphones at his waist and in his backpack, all of which were of the same brand and claimed to be worth about HK$ 70,000.

　　None of the people involved made a voluntary declaration to the customs and failed to produce valid declaration documents. The customs has prosecuted two passengers involved in the case according to law. The person involved in carrying cash illegally claims that the cash is used for entertainment, and he is suspected of violating the relevant provisions of Macao Law No.6/2017 "Regulation on Carrying Cash and Bearer Negotiable Bills into and out of China". Once fined, he will be fined MOP 1000 yuan to RMB500,000 according to the amount exceeding the specified amount.

　　The person involved in smuggling mobile phones into China is a decoration worker, claiming that the phones were purchased from Hong Kong and brought to Australia for sale. The Macao Customs has prosecuted him according to the relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Law. Upon conviction, offenders can be fined MOP 1000 yuan to RMB50,000, and the seized mobile phones will also be owned by the Macao Special Administrative Region.

　　In view of the fact that the Macao Customs intercepted several cases of hiding old smart phones by body at the Macao Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge earlier, it is believed that the above-mentioned case of smuggling mobile phones at Taipa Ferry Terminal was an attempt by criminals to change their routes to avoid customs inspection.

　　Macao Customs reiterated that it will continue to strengthen the crackdown at various ports, and maintain close contact and information exchange with customs in neighboring regions to crack down on all kinds of illegal activities.