Hong Kong Customs yesterday (August 12) mounted an operation against illicit cigarette activities in Kwai Chung and Fanling and seized about 200 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $600,000 and a duty potential of about $400,000.
Customs officers detected two cases of suspected illicit cigarettes storage and distribution and seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes at an industrial building unit in Kwai Chung and a public housing flat in Fanling. Two men, aged 40 and 64, were arrested.
Investigation is ongoing.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Tuesday, August 13, 2019
