(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-01 22:32

HONG KONG -- The Customs and Excise Department detected 172 smuggling cases in Hong Kong in 2007, down 15.7 percent than that of in 2006, an official said here on Friday.

At a year-end briefing, Hong Kong Customs Commissioner Richard Yuen said that of the smuggling cases, 82 involved smuggling across a land boundary while 90 were carried out at sea. Goods seized valued a total of 435 million HK dollars (55.85 million US dollars), and 352 people were arrested.

Yuen said the department detected 695 drug-trafficking cases in 2007, up 9 percent over a year earlier. There were 627 arrests, five drug storage and distribution center closures, and three indoor cannabis plantations shut down. The amount of cannabis, cocaine and ice -- or methylamphetamine -- seized was higher than in 2006, but the amount of ketamine, ecstasy and heroin was on the decline, he added.

As there has been an upward trend of youth engaging in drug abuse despite a drop in the overall number of drug addicts, Yuen pledged his department would contribute to the work of the Task Force on Youth Drug Abuse and step up measures against cross- boundary drug trafficking and drug abuse.

"We have increased random inspections of cross-boundary vehicles, especially cross-boundary coaches, and will carry out more joint operations with Shenzhen Customs to provide a stronger deterrence against youths engaging in cross-boundary drug abuse," he said.

To prevent food smuggling, Yuen said that the relevant departments, including the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, will work closely to ensure food safety.

A task force has recently been set up to co-ordinate inter- departmental efforts and communication with industries to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement action against food-smuggling activities, he added.

Turning to the protection of intellectual property rights, the Commissioner said that there is a rising trend of people using the Internet to market and sell infringing articles. The number of cases climbed 50 percent, to 27 from 18 in 2006. More than 4 million pirated optical discs were also seized last year.

His department has tightened surveillance and enforcement action and will work closely with auction website operators to identify effective measures to curb such activities, Yuen said, adding that raids against shops and hawker stalls selling counterfeit goods during festivals will also be stepped up.