Animals, Cigarettes Seized In Anti-smuggling Raid

Authorities seized more than 40 cats and dogs on board a speedboat in an anti-smuggling operation in waters off Lantau.

Marine police and customs officers said they gave chase to what they said was a suspicious-looking vessel in the small hours of Monday.

Officers said dozens of pet animals – 34 cats and nine dogs – were crammed inside plastic cages on the speedboat.

One of the cats was declared dead and the rest are now being cared for by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department as well as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Authorities said five people were on board the speedboat. They fled after abandoning it on the shore near Tung Chung.

Officers also found more than 450,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of around HK$1.1 million and a duty potential of HK$770,000.

The duty-unpaid cigarettes were found tightly wrapped inside 35 cardboard boxes on the vessel.

Authorities said they're still trying to find out where the animals and cigarettes were bound for.