Meat smuggling syndicate’s assets on chopping block after Hong Kong customs officers arrest 13, seize 160 tonnes of contraband beef
- Authorities seize HK$43 million (US$5.5 million) worth of meat and other valuables, with further seizures of up to HK$147 million (US$19 million) possible
- The operation comes amid a huge spike in meat smuggling, with far more contraband meat already seized so far this year than in the last 10 years combined
Hong Kong customs officers have smashed a cross-border smuggling and money laundering syndicate after arresting 13 people and seizing HK$43 million (US$5.5 million) worth of frozen meat and valuables, with further seizures of as much as HK$147 million (US$19 million) in assets potentially in the offing.
The arrests took place on August 13 as part of an operation code-named “SeaShine”, when authorities snared about 160 tonnes of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of some $25 million.
Customs officers also seized about $18 million in cash and valuables, and froze bank accounts held by the alleged syndicate members with balances amounting to about HK$27 million.
A law enforcement source said the department had used tougher organised crime laws to freeze the accounts, and was considering applying to confiscate the frozen HK$27 million along with a further HK$120 million in assets – namely, eight flats and three parking spaces believed to be linked to the syndicate’s money laundering activities.
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The use of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance to conduct a financial investigation against the syndicate came after enhanced enforcement actions failed to stop the maritime smuggling of frozen meat in recent months.
In the first seven months of this year, customs officers seized some 2,700 tonnes of frozen meat, 53 per cent more than 1,760 tonnes recorded over the entire period from 2009 to 2019. Customs seized about 1,050 tonnes of illicit meat in the whole of last year.