Customs officials said on Tuesday that they had seized more than 890 kilograms of lobsters and 930 kilograms of sea cucumbers during an anti-smuggling operation on Monday in the southern waters of Hong Kong.
Two men, aged 40 and 45, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested. A speedboat and two high-power outboard engines were also detained, according to Customs.
The batch of suspected smuggled goods was said to be worth HK$10 million.
The Divisional Commander of Syndicate Crimes Investigation Bureau of Customs, Lui Siu-fai, said Customs was alerted about the speedboat that day, which was maneuvring at a speed of 145 knots in the East Lamma Channel near the Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter without its navigation light.
Lui said the smugglers disguised the speedboat as a civilian vessel, installing only two outboard engines. He also said the boat had only carried goods at half of its capacity in a bid to outpace Customs’ intercepting vessels.
He added that such smuggling activities are expected to continue as it involves huge profits.
Meanwhile, when asked if the case had undermined national security, Lui said the haul seized by Customs during the operation was without legitimate export declarations, raising food safety concerns.
Hong Kong's customs chief, Louise Ho Pui-shan, earlier said rampant smuggling of Australian rock lobsters into mainland China is a national security threat, as she vowed to crack down on the trade on the first day of assuming duty of the top post.
"On the surface, it is a simple matter of smuggling lobsters, but these activities undermine our country's trade restrictions against Australia."
"Stopping lobster smuggling is a very important part of protecting national security, so we will pursue it diligently,” said Ho.
