Hong Kong customs officials have arrested 64 people for unlicensed baby milk powder exports, in a move aimed to stifle the smuggling of formula before Chinese New Year.
The ongoing operation, which started on Thursday, has already netted 64 people attempting to bring a total of more than 400kg of infant formula into mainland China.
Hong Kong barred people from taking more than than 1.8kg of formula out of the city in March after a rush on milk powder by Chinese parents.
Mainland Chinese are widely distrustful of domestic milk brands due to a 2008 scandal involving formula tainted with melamine that killed six children and sickened 300,000 others.
Their concern triggered demand that emptied shelves around the world.
With Chinese new year approaching in less than a month, smuggling activities have increased for formula, which is sometimes given as a gift, prompting authorities to take action.
"We have arrested 29 males and 35 females aged between 19 to 81 years old, and have seized 450 kilogrammes of baby formula," head of rail and ferry command for Hong Kong customs Louise Ho told reporters Friday.
Offenders face a fine of $HK500,000 ($A72,360) and two years' imprisonment.
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