HK Officials Seize Smuggled Poultry Meat
HONG KONG - Local authorities in Hong Kong seized a large consignment of poultry meat that appears to have originated in South America and was on its way to China on 5 February. Food safety was a major concern, as were unpaid customs duty and taxes.
16 February 2009
2 minute read
According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Hong Kong customs and marine police seized over 160 metric tonnes of unmanifested frozen meat, including chicken wings and offal, worth approximately 18 million Hong Kong dollars (HKD; US$2.3 million) on 5 February 2009.
This high profile seizure in Hong Kong waters was reportedly the biggest on record. Based on their preliminary investigation, the Hong Kong government announced in a press release that the frozen meat was imported from South America and repacked in a container yard in Hong Kong before being loaded onto the cargo vessels, which were then heading towards mainland China when seized by the Hong Kong authorities.
Press reports quoted an official who stressed food safety concerns about the poor hygienic conditions of the smuggled meat.
Reports added that the custom fees and value-added tax for the shipment would be HKD5 million (US$642,670).
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