Customs seize hairy crabs and frozen food at border

Authorities on Sunday said they have foiled an attempt to smuggle about HK$1.6 million worth of hairy crabs and other frozen food into Hong Kong.

Customs officers said the items were seized from a truck returning from the mainland at the Man Kam To border control point on Friday.

“After inspection, the suspected unmanifested hairy crabs and frozen food were found mingled with other properly declared goods,” a Customs Department spokesman said, adding that they didn’t come with health certificates.

He said the 17,000 hairy crabs were estimated to be worth around HK$1.53 million while the frozen food products, including meat and poultry, were believed to be worth approximately HK$60,000.

The 47-year-old truck driver was arrested.

Separately, police said they have confiscated four speedboats in their latest operation targeting cross-border smuggling.

Officers said the vessels, discovered at a remote spot at Lung Kwu Tan in Tuen Mun, were each equipped with three or four engines and could reach speeds of 90 kilometres per hour.

The force added that the speedboats were painted in black and made of steel, making them difficult to spot at night and capable of sinking another boat if there’s a collision.