'Anti-smuggling Op Stymies Dog-owner Reunions'

When customs agents and marine police intercepted two speedboats off Lantau island in an anti-smuggling operation on Friday night, the kinds of goods they seized were for the most part run-of-the-mill items like electronics, handbags, wine and dried abalones… but they also found a dozen pet dogs, stuffed inside four cages.

At first, the authorities weren’t sure what to make of the canine freight, until the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department helped out and found that the dogs – including poodles, Labradors and Pomeranians – were micro-chipped.

That suggests they are registered pet dogs in Hong Kong.

Divisional Commander Danny Cheung of Customs’ Marine Investigation Unit said one theory is that the dogs were being smuggled up to the mainland to be reunited with their owners.

“At this time, because of the pandemic, some Hong Kong people have moved to the mainland but don’t want to be separated from their pets due to a two-week quarantine”, he said.

But he said this probably isn’t the best way for pet-owners to deal with things, noting that the animals were kept in poor conditions.

He made an appeal directly to dog-owners: “If you have a dog that you want to take out of Hong Kong – whether it’s to the mainland or overseas – please use normal channels. It’s better than your beloved pets getting whisked around the sea by these smuggling syndicates. It’s not good for the pet’s health, or their mental well-being.”

Altogether around 200 boxes of various goods were seized from the intercepted boats, and on shore.

Officials estimate the value of the goods at around HK$37 million.

Cheung said the products are those that are typically sought by mainland visitors to Hong Kong, or brought up north by parallel traders.

But since border restrictions have been tightened due to Covid-19 and most road links have been closed, he said mainland consumers have found it hard to get their hands on such goods.

Two mainlanders were arrested in the operation.