(16 Nov 2021) Hong Kong authorities said on Tuesday that it had seized about 2,000 pounds each of live lobster and sea cucumbers believed to be bound for mainland China, months after Beijing restricted imports of lobsters from Australia amid escalating tensions between the two countries.
Hong Kong Customs seized 890 kilograms of live lobsters and 930 kilograms of sea cucumbers, with a total estimated value of 10 million Hong Kong dollars ($1.3 million) during the operation on Monday.
They also arrested two men aged 40 and 45 suspected to be connected to the case.
The origin of the smuggled goods are still under investigation as the boxes seized were not labelled, according to Lui Siu-fai, the divisional commander of the customs' Syndicate Crimes Investigation Bureau.
This week's seizure of lobster comes weeks after a similar anti-smuggling operation in October saw authorities seize 5,300 kilograms (11,650) pounds of Australian lobster worth about $540,000 and arrest 13 people suspected to be connected to the case.
The seizures come after a recent surge in the import volume of Australian lobsters to Hong Kong following China's imposition of an unofficial ban on imports late last year.
Officials said monthly imports of Australian lobster to Hong Kong have since more than doubled.
China's lobster ban came after the Australian government pushed for an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.
China has since blocked trade on other Australian imports, such as wine, barley, cotton and coal.

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