Hong Kong customs officers arrest 5 men after seizure of HK$4.5 million worth of frozen meat from ship
- Customs officers confiscate 40 tonnes of frozen meat in major anti-smuggling operation
- Five men arrested after anti-smuggling operation in waters off Hong Kong
A total of 40 tonnes of frozen meat worth HK$4.5 million was seized and five men arrested after Hong Kong customs officers intercepted a cargo vessel in an anti-smuggling operation in the city’s southern waters.
Michael Leung Ming-yan of the customs marine enforcement group said pursuit boats went into action after radar sweeps detected suspicious maritime activity south of Hong Kong at about 9pm on Thursday.
The customs crews were deployed after an investigation suggested speedboats entered the city’s waters from the mainland and collected goods from a cargo vessel off Lamma Island before racing back to Guangdong.
Leung said two speedboats berthed next to the cargo vessel east of Lamma Island raced off when the customs boats approached.
But he added customs officers chased one of the speedboats.
Leung said: “During the 10-minute pursuit, those on board the boat ignored our repeated warnings and orders to stop and accelerated, leaving for Chinese waters at the city’s southern waters.”
He added the speedboat also made a series sharp turns in an effort to prevent it from being intercepted.
Leung said the speedboat, fitted with six outboard engines, hit 55 knots (102 km/h) in a bid to evade arrest.