UK jails man for trying to smuggle military weapons parts into Hong Kong
A court in Leeds, UK, has sentenced a 47-year-old man to two years and a month in prison after he attempted to smuggle military weapons parts into Hong Kong.
HMRC said metal businessman Stephen Gates sought to consign rifle scopes to a buyer, despite not having the appropriate licence.
HMRC said the scopes, which magnify a gun’s target, were listed as “low value cameras” on customs paperwork. Evidence of 10 further shipments to Hong Kong was found when police searched his home and arrested him in May 2023.
HMRC said the defendant, from Wakefield, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court on Friday to exporting prohibited or restricted goods and forging export documents.
Edwige Hill, deputy director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said: “This was a calculated and sustained attempt to undermine and circumvent the strict licensing regime in place to protect the UK.” BBC.
“This case sends a clear warning to others that if you attempt to send military materials without an export license, you will be arrested and you will face justice.”
