***************************************

Marine Police arrested five Mainlanders for smuggling and seized a large quantity of video compact disks (VCDs) on board a fishing vessel intercepted late last night (May 1).

At about 11.15 pm yesterday, officers on board a Police launch spotted on radar screen a suspicious vessel south-east of Ninepin Group.

About 30 minutes later, the Police launch intercepted a 15-metre-long fishing vessel after a brief chase.

A search discovered on board the vessel 367 carton boxes each containing 1,000 VCDs, with an estimated value of about $5.5 million in total.

Five Mainlanders, aged between 31 and 56, were subsequently arrested on suspicion of smuggling. Initial enquiries revealed that they were heading for Luk Fung in China.

The case will be handed over to the Customs and Excise Department for follow-up action later.

Police Report No. 2

Issued by PPRB

End/0745 hours, Tuesday, May 2, 2000 (EL)

NNNN