Customs officers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point this morning (July 12) seized from an arriving private car 45,740 sticks of dutiable cigarettes, worth about $73,184 and with duty potential of $36,775.
A 26-year-old Hong Kong man and a 35-year-old Hong Kong woman were arrested. They will be each charged with one count of "possession of dutiable goods".
About 6.30am, Customs officers intercepted an arriving private car and seized from four suitcases in the car the dutiable cigarettes.
A spokesman for Customs and Excise Department today (July 12) stressed that passengers entering Hong Kong by private cars had to declare to Customs officers the excessive quantity of dutiable goods and all other controlled articles in their possession, otherwise they would face prosecution.
Under Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, the maximum penalty is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Ends/Thursday, July 12, 2007