A Customs Assistant Trade Controls Officer has been arrested after being caught taking a $5,000 bribe from a garment factory operator for providing tip-offs.

It is alleged the tip-offs were provided to facilitate the cross-boundary transport of textile products and garment panels without proper manifests or documents.

Also arrested in the September 8 Independent Commission Against Corruption operation were a factory operator, the proprietor of a transportation company, a lorry driver and a partner of a garment exporting company.

The operator, proprietor and driver, with assistance from the arrested officer, are believed to have illegally transported textiles and clothing manufactured on the Mainland through Hong Kong, bound for overseas markets as alleged "Hong Kong" products.

The officer allegedly accepted monthly payments from the operator for providing tip-offs on the department's enforcement actions at border checkpoints. He also allegedly accepted payments from a partner of a garment exporting company for accessing confidential Customs computer data.