Customs seizes $2.9M worth of illicit cigarettes

Hong Kong Customs seized about 1.15 million sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes, worth about $2.9 million, with the duty potential of about $2 million, in an anti-illicit cigarettes operation.

The operation was conducted subsequent to a Police referral case, in which 1.25 million of duty-not-paid cigarettes were seized.

After investigation, the Customs seized the 1.15 million sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from a logistics company in Kwai Chung. The consignee is being located and the investigation is continuing.

The Customs has been closely monitoring the illicit cigarette activities and found syndicates taking advantage of busy transportation between Hong Kong and the Mainland to smuggle illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong, mixing with other cargos. The illicit cigarettes would then be delivered to regional distributors by light goods vehicles.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession, selling and buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence.  The maximum penalty on conviction is imprisonment for two years and a fine of $1 million.