Security staff and businessmen arrested for 'cross-border phone smuggling’ facilitated by graft
2000-8-23
The ICAC today (Wednesday) arrested five persons for allegedly assisting a criminal syndicate to smuggle portable phones on board armoured vehicles across the border with the corrupt assistance of employees of a security company.
The ICAC commenced investigation after receiving a corruption complaint in April this year alleging that some security guards of a security company were smuggling portable phones and accessories to the Mainland by using armoured vehicles that deliver cash for clients.
During today's operation "Cypress", the ICAC intercepted an armoured vehicle of the relevant security company at Man Kam To Control Point. 950 mobile phones and batteries, of an estimated value of HK$2 million, were seized from the safe of the vehicle.
The arrestees netted in the operation included two security guards and a driver of the security company, and two businessmen, aged between 35 and 53.
ICAC investigations revealed that the driver arrested had allegedly accepted bribes from members of a criminal syndicate for using an armoured vehicle to smuggle portable phones and accessories including batteries and chargers to the Mainland.
It was alleged that the driver accepted $5,000 in bribes for each shipment of goods smuggled.
The driver also allegedly offered bribes to his supervisor for posting to the "Mainland route"; while security guards on board the vehicle were also offered bribes for turning a blind eye to the smuggling activities.
Investigations also revealed that today before setting out for duty, the driver secretly met the alleged mastermind of the syndicate and loaded the goods in carton boxes onto the armoured vehicle. The boxes were then concealed in the vehicle for smugglin g through the Man Kam To Control Point.
It was suspected that the scam had been running for at least six months. The goods were believed to be supplied for sale in Shenzhen and the northern part of the Mainland.
The ICAC received full cooperation from the relevant security company during the investigation and assistance from the Customs and Excise Department in today's operation.
All arrestees are being detained. Inquiries are continuing.
The ICAC commenced investigation after receiving a corruption complaint in April this year alleging that some security guards of a security company were smuggling portable phones and accessories to the Mainland by using armoured vehicles that deliver cash for clients.
During today's operation "Cypress", the ICAC intercepted an armoured vehicle of the relevant security company at Man Kam To Control Point. 950 mobile phones and batteries, of an estimated value of HK$2 million, were seized from the safe of the vehicle.
The arrestees netted in the operation included two security guards and a driver of the security company, and two businessmen, aged between 35 and 53.
ICAC investigations revealed that the driver arrested had allegedly accepted bribes from members of a criminal syndicate for using an armoured vehicle to smuggle portable phones and accessories including batteries and chargers to the Mainland.
It was alleged that the driver accepted $5,000 in bribes for each shipment of goods smuggled.
The driver also allegedly offered bribes to his supervisor for posting to the "Mainland route"; while security guards on board the vehicle were also offered bribes for turning a blind eye to the smuggling activities.
Investigations also revealed that today before setting out for duty, the driver secretly met the alleged mastermind of the syndicate and loaded the goods in carton boxes onto the armoured vehicle. The boxes were then concealed in the vehicle for smugglin g through the Man Kam To Control Point.
It was suspected that the scam had been running for at least six months. The goods were believed to be supplied for sale in Shenzhen and the northern part of the Mainland.
The ICAC received full cooperation from the relevant security company during the investigation and assistance from the Customs and Excise Department in today's operation.
All arrestees are being detained. Inquiries are continuing.