Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities have arrested 12 people after shutting down a cross-boundary smuggling syndicate, seizing $5 million worth of goods.

The ring smuggled high-value electronic goods and silver slabs from a hut near the boundary fence in Ta Kwu Ling to the Mainland via a drainage channel.

Hong Kong Police and Customs officers arrested three male illegal immigrants aged 17 to 23, and seized $4.4 million worth of goods, including 495kg of silver slabs, 1,190 mobile phones and 4,850 LCD displays for mobile phones.

Shenzhen authorities have so far arrested nine male Mainlanders and seized $600,000 worth of goods, including mobile phones and LCD displays.