‘Operation Melter’ credited with seizing HK$35 million in gold bars during smuggling crackdown on Hong Kong-mainland border

HONG KONG, Oct 10 (SCMP): Hong Kong customs officials seized HK$35 million (US$4.5 million) worth of gold bars during the course of “Operation Melter”, a recently wrapped, four-week smuggling crackdown that has raised concerns about possible money-laundering by criminal organisations in mainland China.

The 71 gold bars, which weighed 1kg each, were discovered in six separate seizures involving trucks arriving at the Lok Ma Chau and Man Kam To border checkpoints between September 3 and 27.