U.S. arrived in Hong Kong for 25 million yuan, Shishou fish maw broke into customs records

Burst

Author: Yang Wanting Deng Yongzhong

2020-06-08 17:02

Customs has cracked a case of smuggling fish with a briquette of 25 million yuan, which is the largest case in history. Last Thursday (4th), the customs inspected 20 boxes of air cargoes that were reported as fresh fish from Los Angeles, USA. The arrival of fish in the United States is not common and has caused concern. After inspection, it was found that the origin of the cargo box was Mexico, and the X-ray machine image also revealed that the density of the cargo box was uneven. It was actually the famous stonefish fish swim bladder with the bottom and surface of the ice brick fish fillet, and the middle layer was expensive. Price flower glue. A total of 15 boxes of fish bladders out of the 20 boxes of goods, weighing a total of about 160 kg, with a total value of about 25 million yuan, the Customs subsequently arrested 5 men, including the warehouse manager and consignee.

This batch of Shishou fish swim bladder is endemic to the Gulf of California in Mexico. Due to habitat destruction and long-term overfishing, it has been included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and included in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.

The Customs found that among the 20 boxes of goods, a total of 15 boxes contained Shishou fish swim bladders. A total of 270 Shishou fish swim bladders were found, weighing a total of about 160 kilograms, with a total value of about 25 million yuan. Both the weight and the value broke the customs record of similar single cases in the past. (Photo by Deng Yongzhong)

U.S. shipment of fresh fish to Hong Kong is uncommon

Liu Qinglong, the supervisor of the Air Cargo Section of the Customs Airport Section, pointed out that when the Customs Airport Section staff processed the air cargo information provided by the airline for customs clearance last Thursday (4th), they noticed that a batch of goods that were reported as fresh fish would be shipped by the United States. Los Angeles is shipped to Hong Kong. Since it is uncommon to ship fresh fish to Hong Kong in the United States, and the delivery location is a commercial center in Mong Kok, the customs has selected and inspected the batch of goods after a risk assessment.

Different density of cargo boxes

On the same day, after the goods were delivered to the customs inspection yard, the personnel had discovered that they were not fresh fish. The sign on the cargo box is written in Spanish and the origin is Mexico, and there are mackerel inside. After inspection by X-ray machine, it was found that there are two different densities in the total 20 boxes of goods. Among them, the X-ray pictures of several boxes have clear fish heads and fish tails, but the density of other boxes is uneven. The top and bottom are low density. Objects, while the middle layer is dark high-density objects. The cargo is reported as fresh fish, which is different from the expected clear and uniform image, which caused the customs officers to suspect that there is a chance to hide the contraband. After opening the inspection, it was found that the top layer was a fish fillet frozen in ice bricks. Possessions.

In order to check the inside, the personnel took the fish fillet after the ice on the surface was dissolved, and found a white object in the middle layer. It was confirmed that there were 2 long tentacle fish swim bladders, which were suspected to be expensive Shishou fish swim bladders. After an in-depth investigation, a total of 15 boxes of Shishou fish swim bladders were found in 20 boxes, and a total of 270 Shishou fish swim bladders were found, weighing a total of about 160 kilograms, worth about 160,000 yuan per kilogram, and a total value of about 25 million yuan. Both the weight and value broke the customs. Records of similar single cases in the past.

5 male arrested including warehouse manager and consignee

Hu Weijun, senior supervisor of the organized crime investigation department of the Customs, said that after an in-depth investigation, according to the information provided by the freight forwarder, the personnel went to a warehouse in Yuen Long to carry out surveillance delivery operations and arrested three suspected suspects, aged 36, 40 and 42 respectively. Men, of whom 2 arrested men are responsible for the warehouse. Customs continued to monitor the delivery operation. It is believed that Shishou Fish Maw will be sent to an industrial and trade building in Fanling for settlement. Eventually, another two men, aged 38 and 57, were arrested in Fanling. Five men are currently on bail pending investigation. The case is still under investigation, and no one is arrested. Due to the large number of seizures this time, it is not ruled out that some Shishou fish swim bladder will circulate in the local market.

Since 2002, the Customs has cracked 9 cases of the same type, excluding a total of about 37 kilograms, excluding this case, so this single case is the largest case of its kind in the past, and most of the past cases were passengers or passengers brought in This time, this is the first time to use the briquettes to fillet the fish heads.

+2

Variety from Gulf of California, Mexico

Chen Hanqi, Director of Endangered Species Protection (Licensing Matters) of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said that the species involved in this case is the Shishou fish in the Gulf of California. This species is the largest species in the Shishouidae family. , Is a unique local variety.

Local illegal hunting seriously lists endangered wild species

Since Jiawan Shishou fish swim bladder can be made into precious flower gum, it has been caught in large quantities in the 1940s, and the local illegal hunting situation continues. Under habitat destruction and long-term over-fishing, compared with the previous fishing figures, Jiawan Shishou fish group The quantity has not recovered to a reasonable level, so it was included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in the 1970s, and international commercial trade has been banned.

Another species of Gawan dolphins in the same water area was caught by mistake in the catch of Shishou fish nets and was killed in large numbers. Experts estimate that there are less than 22 Gawan porpoises left in the world. The conservation status of Gawan dolphins and Kawan amphora are extremely severe, both of which are listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Hong Kong and the Mainland have from time to time seized illegally imported transit or sale of Kawan amphora gum.

On the market, the flower gum of Jiawan Shishou fish is called "money jelly fish glue" or "money glue", which is larger than other flower gums. After drying, it has two tentacles that are longer than the flower gum itself, which can be easily identified. Chen Hanqi urged citizens to report to the Bureau as soon as possible if they find out. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has been conducting regular inspections of seafood shops, maintaining high vigilance with the customs, and maintaining close contact with the authorities of Mexico and the Mainland of China to exchange law enforcement information to combat smuggling activities.

The Customs and Excise Department attaches great importance to the protection of endangered animals and plants. In combating the smuggling of endangered wild animals and plants, it will maintain close cooperation with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on import and export control.

According to the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, anyone who illegally imports or exports endangered species is liable to a maximum fine of 10 million yuan and imprisonment for 10 years upon conviction.

According to the Import and Export Ordinance, anyone who imports goods not listed in the manifest will be prosecuted. Once the offender is convicted, the maximum penalty is a fine of 2 million yuan and imprisonment for 7 years.

Members of the public can call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or report suspected smuggling activities through a crime-only email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

Customs smuggling