Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 5) smashed a suspected illicit cigarette storehouse in Kowloon City and seized about 150 000 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes and 4.4 kilograms of suspected cannabis resin.
In a special operation mounted in Kowloon City yesterday, Customs officers raided a shop suspected of storing illicit cigarettes and seized about 150 000 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes, with a total value of about $420,000 and a duty potential of about $300,000. In the subsequent premises search, about 4.4kg of suspected cannabis resin was further seized with a total value of about $370,000. A 21-year-old man was arrested. The case is still under investigation.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, the maximum penalty for trafficking in a dangerous drug is life imprisonment and a fine of $5 million.
Ends/Wednesday, July 6, 2016
