Customs officers from the Ports & Maritime Command have cracked a sea-smuggling case after seizing two unmanifested luxury left-hand-drive vehicles on a Mainland river trade vessel.

At 9.15pm on Wednesday, officers of the Harbour & River Trade Division boarded a river trade vessel arriving from Shekou at Yaumatei Anchorage.

They examined a 40-foot container declared to be carrying leather, but found no leather products inside. Instead, two used luxury left-hand-drive vehicles - a utility vehicle and a saloon car - were found, with an estimated value of $750,00 in total.

Two male Mainlanders -the 40-year-old captain and a 41-year-old cargo staff - were arrested for importing unmanifested cargo.

Investigations showed one of vehicles had been used in Canada. The two seized vehicles had been shipped from Canada to the Mainland earlier for ultimate delivery to Dalian.

Customs believes the vehicles were deliberately arranged to transship via Hong Kong to minimise the risk of being detected by the Mainland authorities.

In subsequent investigations, Customs officers yesterday arrested two local men - a 37-year-old shipping company manager and a 46-year-old forwarding company manager.