Hong Kong Customs today (October 15) detected a cross-boundary smuggling cigarettes case at Man Kam To Control Point. In an inbound goods vehicle, a total of 196 boxes containing about 2.4 million sticks of duty not paid cigarettes were found. The total value of the cigarettes was about $4.5 million with a duty potential of $2.8 million. In the operation, a man was arrested and the goods vehicle was seized.
At noon today, Customs officers at Man Kam To Control Point intercepted a loaded goods vehicle which declared to contain "assorted cargoes". Upon examination, the duty not paid cigarettes were found and the driver was arrested immediately. The illicit cigarettes found had been sorted and packed, ready for sale.
The 45-year-old arrested man will be charged with importing unmanifested cargo under the Import and Export Ordinance.
According to the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment of seven years.
A Customs spokesman stressed that Customs would continue to combat illicit cigarette activities to protect revenue. The public is urged to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to the Customs 24-hours hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, October 15, 2010
