Customs seizes 48,000 smuggled hairy crabs, the largest case on record

Customs confiscated about 48,000 suspected smuggled hairy crabs that weighed approximately 10.8 tonnes and were worth around HK$7.2 million at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on Sunday.

It is also the largest on record among similar cases detected by Customs in terms of quantity and weight of the seizure.

Officers intercepted an inbound truck that was declared as carrying 307 cartons of electronic products at the port, and the batch of suspected smuggled hairy crabs was found inside the cargo compartment of the vehicle.

The average weight of each seized crab is 6 to 8 taels, with a sale price of around HK$150 to HK$200. 

The hairy crabs did not come with health certificates issued by the relevant authorities of the exporting economies, and failed to comply with the requirements of the Shell Fish (Hairy Crab) Permit.

A 57-year-old male driver was arrested. Customs stated that they are investigating the origin of the crab.

Customs and the Center for Food Safety have launched a three-month joint operation to crack down on smuggling hairy crabs at all air, sea and land ports since September 1. 

As of yesterday (Oct 22), officers have referred 41 cases to the Center for follow-up. Among them, 18 cases involved 55,800 hairy crabs without health certificates.