Police said on Sunday they arrested two men on Lantau Island on suspicion of smuggling more than three million sticks of illicit cigarettes – with a street value of some HK$14.6 million.

The force said they suspected there had recently been smuggling activities on the south side of the island, and officers found three speedboats which had their lights turned off on Saturday.

Police said while the boats ended up fleeing to waters southwest of Hong Kong, officers were able to stop two vans on Tung Chung Road and found the suspected illicit cigarettes.

The arrestees are aged 20 and 53, and officers have held the vehicles for investigation.