BEIJING/HONG KONG (REUTERS) - Hong Kong customs seized about 540 tonnes of suspected smuggled frozen meat with an estimated market value of about US$50 million (S$68 million), the authority said in a statement on Friday (Nov 29).

The meat was found aboard four suspicious fishing vessels that were leaving Hong Kong, the customs authority said in a statement. Local broadcaster RTHK said the vessels were allegedly bound for mainland China.

Meat prices in China hit a record high following an outbreak of African swine fever that swept through the country's pig herd. That makes meat smuggling more profitable than at any time in the past.

Six men aged between 52 and 64 were arrested, according to Hong Kong customs. But the statement did not specify what meat the six men were smuggling.

To ensure supplies in the market, China has been increasing meat imports, with pork arrivals in October doubled from a year earlier and beef arrivals up 63.2 per cent on year.