HK Customs seize suspected red sandalwood worth HK$7m

Hong Kong Customs seized a total of around 5,000 kilograms of what they suspect to be endangered red sandalwood at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound and Hong Kong International Airport on Wednesday.

Such quantities of the wood would have an estimated market value of over HK$7 million.

A seaborne consignment, which had arrived from Malaysia, was discovered at the Kwai Ching compound, with a smaller air consignment being seized at the airport. The latter had arrived in Hong Kong from India.

Investigations are ongoing following the seizures. Under Hong Kong’s Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of HK$10 million and imprisonment of 10 years.