Press Release

Customs seizes over 2,600 kg smuggled pork

In light of the upcoming Lunar New Year, Customs officers have strengthened enforcement against meat smuggling activities by mounting a series of operations in Sha Tau Kok, a spokesman for Customs and Excise said today (January 25).

At about 7am this morning (January 25), Customs officers of Shek Chung Au Check Post intercepted a lorry departing from Sha Tau Kok Village. They seized from it 86 bags of smuggled pork, weighing a total of 2,617 kilograms and worth about $83,700.

A 38-year-old local male driver was arrested.

The case was referred to Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for follow-up action.

In 2005, Customs officers of Shek Chung Au Check Post cracked 23 meat smuggling cases leading to the seizure of $330,000 worth of pork. In mid-January 2006, officers of the same Check Post seized 700 kilograms of pork, worth about $22,000 in a smuggling case.

Ends/Wednesday, January 25, 2006