Hong Kong customs seizes 1.3 tonnes of meat, live crabs in crackdown on food smuggling
Items such as meat and fish were smuggled in dozens of foam boxes that were left unrefrigerated in the street for around 10 hours, authorities say
Hong Kong customs officers have seized 1.3 tonnes of food products including unrefrigerated meat and live hairy crabs, in a crackdown on a cross-border criminal syndicate smuggling contraband retail goods into the city from mainland China.
Inspector Lam Chun-hing of the customs’ syndicate crimes investigation bureau said on Wednesday that two men were arrested during last week’s operation. The two suspects comprised the owner of a grocery store in Tsuen Wan and a truck driver.
He said the 34 foam boxes of the illicit products, including previously frozen meat and fish as well as live hairy crabs, were transported into the city from the mainland by a truck without any refrigerating facilities.
“The haul was then unloaded from the truck onto a street in Tsuen Wan and left there for around 10 hours before someone came to pick it up,” Lam said.
He expressed concerns about potential health problems for those consuming the food products. “There will be food safety risks if these items are sold to shoppers,” he added.
The Customs and Excise Department said the contraband included dumplings, noodles and meatballs, and would have sold for about HK$100,000 (US$12,860) in Hong Kong.
