Customs officers on Thursday said they had foiled an attempt to smuggle 12 kilogrammes of gold, estimated to be worth HK$7.5 million, from Hong Kong to Japan.

Officers said an X-ray scan at the airport revealed gold hidden in parts of ozone generators.

They said they suspect smugglers were trying to evade taxes of HK$800,000.

This was the third haul of smuggled gold to be intercepted by the authorities this year.