Hong Kong Customs officers Monday arrested a man and seized 2,450 kilograms of unmanifested food and 5,200 dutiable cigarettes, together worth 75,000 HK dollars (9,615 US dollars), in a joint operation with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

Shortly before 8:00 am, Customs officers at Man Kam To Control Point stopped an incoming medium goods vehicle from Shenzhen that claimed to be carrying meatballs, fish balls and pork dumplings.

Instead, the officers found 2,450 kilograms of smuggled chilled pork and beef, game, poultry, seafood and vegetables, worth about 67,300 HK dollars, and 5,200 dutiable cigarettes, valued at about 7,800 HK dollars and with duty potential of 4,200 HK dollars.

The 51-year-old driver was arrested. He will be charged with importing unmanifested cargo under the Import and Export Ordinance and "importing game, meat or poultry without an official certificate" under Import Game, Meat and Poultry Regulations.

The seized meat, game, poultry, seafood and vegetables will be handed over to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for follow-up action.

Editor: Yan