Couple arrested over seizure of 16,000 Hong Kong Mark Six lottery tickets destined for illegal sale in Macau and mainland
- Two taken into custody at home in Tsuen Wan; documents, phones and HK$280,000 in cash impounded, HK$1 million in bank accounts frozen
- Lottery tickets said to be destined for illegal sale in Macau and mainland China found among HK$10 million of contraband on ship
A husband and wife were on Thursday arrested on suspicion of money laundering and smuggling after the seizure of 16,000 Mark Six lottery tickets by Hong Kong customs officers in an anti-smuggling operation last week.
The two were taken into custody at their home in Tsuen Wan and customs officers also seized bank and shipping documents, several mobile phones and about HK$280,000 (US$35,670) in cash.
More than HK$1 million in the couple’s bank accounts has also been frozen.
The lottery tickets, destined to be sold illegally in Macau and mainland China, were among HK$10 million worth of contraband found in a cargo ship intercepted off Black Point in Tuen Mun at around 6.30pm last Wednesday.
600 of 16,000 Mark Six tickets seized by Hong Kong customs end up winners
A team of customs officers was assigned on Monday to manually check the lottery tickets, with help from staff members at the Jockey Club, the Mark Six organiser.
About 600 tickets were found to have won a total of about HK$70,000 in prizes.
Wong Ching-fu, a customs divisional commander, said it was the first time lottery tickets had been seized in an anti-smuggling operation.
He added the department had asked for legal advice from the Department of Justice on how to handle the prize money.
Customs officers targeted a 48-year-old Hong Kong woman after they found she had bought a large amount of lottery tickets at two Jockey Club betting shops with cash on the day of the seizure.
Wong said the woman’s husband, 49, was also alleged to have been involved.
“A major direction for our investigation will be on whether the funds used to purchase the lottery tickets are related to the smuggling case,” Wong said.
Customs officers said they suspected the case also involved a criminal syndicate.
Hong Kong customs makes record haul of HK$222 million worth of illegal cigarettes
Officials confirmed that the couple was suspected of being involved in money laundering and smuggling activities. They were later released on bail.
The haul last week also included more than 6,000 electronic products such as mobile phones and tablets hidden in several boxes.
Two mainland crew members, aged 37 and 59, were arrested after the ship was searched.
The Customs and Excise Department said the shipment, placed on top of four pallets, was declared as food.
The consignment was selected for inspection after customs officers checked it with a handheld X-ray scanner and their suspicions were aroused.
