SCORES of Hong Kong vessels are being raided by gangsters, often posing as mainland security officers, both inside and outside the territory's waters, sources said.
Cargoes are also being pilfered while at Hong Kong ports and finding their way to China.
The gangs organising the thefts are believed to be a combination of mainland and Hong Kong criminals. But police say there is little way to distinguish between thieves and genuine security personnel.
'Even if the police become involved, there would usually be no time to verify whether they were genuine mainland security forces or bandits dressed in their uniforms,' a police source said.
The Security Branch was unable to say whether bandits posing as mainland security officers could in fact be security force personnel.
In the case last month of a hijacking of a tug and lighter inside Hong Kong waters by border security officers, the hijackers wearing uniforms failed to identify themselves to Marine Police.
And in a high profile case last year when a Honduran-registered cargo-vessel the Tequila was boarded in Hong Kong waters, sources said it was likely the gang seized the ship near the entrance to Tseung Kwan O, possibly by disguising themselves as officials.