Hong Kong customs seizes more than 160 diamonds worth HK$6.5 million from truck at Shenzhen border
- Precious stones stuffed in truck driver’s pocket detected at new border checkpoint
- Border inspections ramped up as officials fear Covid-19 travel curbs are fuelling illicit diamond trade
More than 160 diamonds worth an estimated HK$6.5 million (US$840,000) have been seized during a Hong Kong customs inspection of a truck at a new border checkpoint, the largest bust of its kind in three years.
The Shenzhen-bound haul, wrapped in a plastic bag and stuffed in the driver’s trouser pocket, was to be smuggled through the Heung Yuen Wai control point to avoid stringent import restrictions and mainland Chinese taxes amounting to between 10 and 20 per cent of the precious stones’ value, according to a law enforcement source.
Last month, HK$1 million worth of rough diamonds were detected when a Hong Kong-bound vehicle was stopped for inspection at Lok Ma Chau control point.
The latest seizure was made at Heung Yuen Wai control point in northern Hong Kong on Thursday morning when a truck heading for Shenzhen was selected for a routine inspection. The border checkpoint opened in April.
