*********************************************************
Marine Police arrested three men off Tai Long Tsui in Sai Kung early this morning (November 23) for smuggling more than 1,900 boxes of contraband video compact discs (VCDs) with an estimated retail value of more than $45 million.
About 2.15am today, during an anti-smuggling operation, Marine Police officers aboard a high-speed interceptor and two fast pursuit craft of the Small Boat Division saw a cargo vessel near Wang Chau in Sai Kung. The Marine vessels then followed the cargo vessel as it headed towards Mainland waters.
Signals by the officers for the vessel to stop were ignored. The vessel, with three Hong Kong men on board, was subsequently intercepted near Tai Long Tsui.
A search uncovered 1,905 boxes of VCDs wrapped in waterproof plastic bags with an estimated retail value of about $45.7 million.
Initial enquiries revealed that the cargo were loaded at the Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area and were intended to be conveyed to the Mainland.
The three men, aged between 47 and 52, were arrested for attempting to export unmanifested cargo and failing to stop upon their failure to produce a manifest for the cargo. The case will be handed over to the Customs and Excise Department for follow-up action.
Police Report No. 6
Ends/Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:56
NNNN
