Bag check: Assistant Commissioner (Boundary & Ports) Chow Kwong (left) inspects Customs surveillance at Man Kam To Control Point.

Customs officers have detained 212 people and seized 700kg of fresh and frozen poulty, and five live birds in the past three months in a smuggling crackdown.

Assistant Commissioner (Boundary & Ports) Chow Kwong said today since the discovery of H5N1 in Hunan in October, Customs has enhanced boundary enforcement.

Last month officers seized 1,567kg of illicit chicken and poultry meat, and two live chickens. Last year saw 254,943kg of illicit chicken and poultry meat, and 28 live birds seized.

"We have strengthened intelligence exchange with the Mainland and other Customs authorities, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department and the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department to crack down on smuggling activities," Mr Chow said, urging people not to bring birds or poultry into Hong Kong illegally.