Customs seizes MOP1.48 million in smuggled goods

Macau Customs Service (SA) intercepted 30 suspected smuggling cases in one week, seizing cigarettes, e-cigarettes, silver pellets, and other goods worth an estimated MOP1.48 million as authorities intensified border enforcement under Operation Thunder 2026.

The seizures, made from Oct. 16 to 22, took place at Macau International Airport, the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal and the Border Gate, according to the bureau.

During this period, officers declared confiscating about 157,000 cigarettes and 58,000 e-cigarettes, along with 319 used electronic products, roughly 38 kilograms of suspected silver pellets, 103 cosmetic products and about 120 boxes of medical devices.

In this set of seizures, the cigarettes involved unpaid taxes of approximately MOP236,000.

At the Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal, Customs seized undeclared medical devices from a batch of imported goods suspected of being illegally brought into Macau.

At the Border Gate, an X-ray screening flagged anomalies involving 14 mainland residents, six local residents, and one Hong Kong resident. Six of those involved are also suspected of violating the Prevention and Control of Smoking Regulations. The Health Bureau (SSM) has received their cases for follow-up.

The SA said the Public Security Police Force coordinated the operation and relied on technological monitoring and early-warning systems to detect concealed goods moving in and out of Macau.

In a separate case at the Zhuhai Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Customs intercepted a Hong Kong-registered passenger vehicle carrying methamphetamine and ketamine. Officers found a suspected meth pipe and white crystalline substances in the trunk.

Subsequent testing found 2.24 grams of methamphetamine and 15.42 grams of ketamine. SA said the driver admitted to using and smuggling drugs and noted that the case had been transferred to the Judiciary Police.