Six businessmen have been fined up to $60,000 this year for selling water monitor lizard and snake meat falsely described as crocodile.

The heaviest fine was meted out at Eastern Magistracy on a businessman convicted on September 1.

Customs officers posing as customers bought three taels of alleged crocodile meat for $30 from a shop on Ko Shing Street, Sheung Wan, on September 17 last year. The meat was later found to be water monitor lizard.

Customs summonsed the businessman for supplying, in the course of trade or business, water monitor lizard meat with a false trade description of crocodile.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance any person who supplies in the course of trade or business any goods to which a false trade description is applied commits an offence. Offenders face two years' jail and a $100,000 fine.