Hong Kong police, customs officers rescue 75 kittens and puppies from being smuggled to mainland China
- Pedigree kittens and puppies, worth HK$1.2 million, were being loaded from van onto speedboat when officers intervened
- Two suspects jumped aboard speedboat and managed to escape from high-speed pursuit vessels, according to police
Hong Kong police and customs officers confiscated 75 pedigree kittens and puppies with a market value of up to HK$30,000 (US$3,800) each while they were being smuggled into mainland China in the early hours of Thursday.
A source said he believed the 62 kittens and 13 puppies, estimated to be worth about HK$1.2 million in total, were intended for Shekou for breeding.
A speedboat fixed with an outboard engine was spotted entering Hong Kong waters from the mainland and manoeuvring in Deep Bay off Lau Fau Shan around 1.30am on Thursday. A suspected smuggler was seen on board the boat at the time.
When it berthed at the Nim Wan Road waterfront in the Ha Pak Lai area, a delivery van drove in. The site is several kilometres away from Lau Fau Shan.
As the driver of the van was moving some crates from his vehicle to the speedboat, officers moved in.
According to police, the man then jumped onto the boat which sped off heading towards the mainland. Two high-speed pursuit boats were deployed to give chase.
“During the pursuit, the speedboat took advantage of oyster farms at sea to cause obstacles for the pursuing boats,” a source said.
