Customs officers said on Friday that an anti-smuggling operation earlier this month netted a haul of goods worth HK$1.2 billion – the most valuable on record.
The find includes luxury foodstuffs, wines, handbags, watches, clothes, shoes, electronic products and skincare items.
Officers said they intercepted a vessel carrying 24 cargoes destined for Guangzhou in the evening on October 14 near Tung Lung Chau.
They found the ship suspicious as it was said to be carrying 600 tonnes of plastic beads, which are readily available on the mainland.
Two people were arrested.
The syndicate could have evaded import taxes amounting to HK$2 billion, if they had successfully smuggled the items to the mainland, customs said.
