Smuggling syndicate rounded up

More than HK$33 million worth of mainland-made mobile phones and imported American ginseng were seized and three men and three women arrested in Hong Kong, after a joint operation by Hong Kong and Shenzhen customs officials. The smuggling syndicate had allegedly been operating since early this year from Lin Ma Hang, in the closed area east of Lo Wu. The syndicate took advantage of the mainland's tax refunds for exports, re-exporting the same batch of phones to Hong Kong after changing their unique identity numbers, officials said.