Customs arrests 6 Hongkongers for allegedly smuggling raw food worth HK$200,000
In six separate cases over August and September, customs seizes unauthorised frozen meat, eggs, and largest amount of hairy crab in single operation
Six Hongkongers from a syndicate have been arrested on suspicion of smuggling raw food from mainland China into the city, including the largest amount of hairy crab in a single operation this year, according to the Customs and Excise Department.
Customs said on Friday it had seized unauthorised frozen meat, eggs and hairy crab worth about HK$200,000 (US$25,800) shipped into Hong Kong from the mainland in six separate cases in August and September.
Chow Chun-hung, a senior investigator of customs’ syndicate crime investigation bureau, said a total of 260kg (573lbs) of frozen meat, 600 eggs and 170kg (375lbs) of hairy crab were intercepted.
The volume of hairy crab seized was the largest in a single operation this year, Chow added.
“Frozen meat is a duty-free product in Hong Kong, but the importation is regulated by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and customs. We believe the suspects were trying to avoid regulations,” Chow said.
Three of the six cases occurred at the Sha Tau Kok checkpoint, located at the city’s Sha Tau Kok restricted zone, where only those with valid police-issued passes can enter.