Hong Kong Customs seized about HK$100 million worth of gold and precious metals concealed in two air shipments at Hong Kong International Airport.

The first case, uncovered on October 3, involved ceramic trays bound for Japan. Customs officers found 60 kilograms of gold-silver alloy hidden in 126 trays, valued at HK$20 million. Each tray contained a heavy black circular plate showing machining marks. Tests later confirmed the metal to be an alloy of 30 percent gold and 70 percent silver.

The second case, detected on October 16, concerned a shipment declared as clothing materials bound for Vietnam. Officers found three dense items containing silver-colored metal blocks, which were later confirmed to be suspected gold weighing about 80 kilograms and worth around HK$80 million.

Ho Ting-chun, an investigator of the Customs and Excise Department’s syndicate crimes investigation bureau, said the first shipment was linked to a shell company established last year to evade Japanese taxes, while the second was an attempt to bypass Vietnam’s strict controls on gold imports.

He added that smugglers are using more complex and costly concealment methods to avoid detection. Investigations are ongoing, and no arrests have been made.

Sources: The Standard