Hong Kong police and customs make this year’s biggest seizure of goods bound for mainland China in HK$12 million smuggling bust
- But gang evades capture by dumping high-value products destined for Shenzhen and fleeing by speedboat
- Officials say they have struck heavy blow to syndicate, which sought to dodge taxes on mobile phones, computer tablets and handbags
Hong Kong authorities made the year’s largest seizure of goods destined to be smuggled into mainland China, in a joint operation on Tuesday that confiscated more than HK$12 million (US$1.5 million) worth of high-value products.
But the gang of seven fled in a speedboat, taking advantage of dense mangroves in waters northwest of Hong Kong to evade capture, a senior customs official said.
After a two-week surveillance operation on a cross-border smuggling syndicate, police and customs officers laid in wait in marshland near Hong Kong Westland Park, off Border Road in Tin Shui Wai, on Monday night.
Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, a five-metre long speedboat was manoeuvred into a tributary and stopped at the location, where men were seen loading boxes onto the boat from a truck.
When officers moved in, the group dumped the goods on the shore and jumped onto the speedboat, which accelerated away with police crafts in pursuit.