2005-11-05 16:17 Police seized about $0.35 million worth of suspected smuggled leather goods and arrested two men during an operation in the vicinity near Crooked Island in Sha Tau Kok this (November 5) morning. At about 5.20 am, officers of the Marine Police Small Boat Division spotted an unlit speedboat with two men aboard passing Crooked Island at high speed. The speedboat accelerated to flee immediately when Marine Police indicated to intercept it. Marine Police gave a chase to the speedboat at once and intercepted it five minutes later. The two men were seen immediately jumped overboard. The two men were later rescued alive from sea. Seventy rolls of leather wrapped in nylon bags were found on the speedboat. The estimated value of the cargo was $0.35 million. The two men on board the speedboat, aged 23 and 38, were both two-way permit holders. They could not produce the relevant manifest document. They were both arrested for attempting to export unmanifested cargo, endangering life at sea, failing to stop, and breach of conditions of stay. They are still being detained for enquiries. Investigations by Regional Crime Unit, Marine are proceeding. Police is very concerned about the attempt by some Hong Kong smuggling syndicates to employ mainlanders to smuggle high value contraband using high powered Hong Kong registered pleasure craft to the Mainland. Marine Police will continue to monitor illegal activities in Hong Kong waters and conduct proactive operations in the various smuggling blackspots. |