Hong Kong authorities have nabbed at least 5,000 people accused of being involved in baby milk powder smuggling in the past year, news reports said.
The detainees include 1,748 Hong Kong residents, 3,235 mainland residents and 17 people who are not citizens of either China or the Special Administrative Region, who were arrested by Hong Kong's law enforcement agencies between March 2014 and February 2015.
In addition, the law enforcers seized a total of 61,200 kilograms of powdered baby milk formula.
Prices for baby formula are higher in mainland China, which has led many mainlanders to buy in Hong Kong and sell across the border, resulting in shortages throughout the city.
