Last week, Hong Kong Customs intercepted two individuals who were attempting to smuggle Nvidia graphics cards and live lobsters out of Hong Kong. The suspects were caught while driving across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, suggesting that they were on their way to Macau, a Chinese city.
Despite the private car declaring itself as empty, customs officials discovered 280 kilograms (617 pounds) of live lobsters tightly packed inside. Alongside the lobsters, 70 computer graphics cards were also found in the vehicle, with a collective estimated market value of roughly $600,000, according to the Hong Kong authorities.
Photos of the incident were also shared by Hong Kong Customs, one of which displays the tightly packed car. Two additional photos exhibit the unpacked live lobsters and a table crowded with computer GPUs. From the visuals provided, it seems that the graphics cards in question are the Nvidia Quadro K2200, which were first introduced in 2014. As a result, the smugglers may have been attempting to sell these cards to an electronics recycler.
The Hong Kong Customs have cautioned that the repercussions for smuggling could be severe. As per the Import and Export Ordinance, those found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo may face imprisonment of up to seven years and a hefty fine of $2 million, the agency has warned.