Regarding a study on illicit tobacco in Hong Kong released today (September 9), the Customs and Excise Department, in response to media enquiries, said that Customs has been sustaining vigorous enforcement against illicit cigarette activities at all fronts, including smuggling, distribution, storage and peddling activities.
With Customs' stringent enforcement actions, illicit cigarette activities have reduced significantly. In the first eight months this year, public complaints recorded a drop by 16% as compared to the same period last year.
A Customs spokesperson said that the strategy of enforcement at source remains to be effective with 15 significant (more than 500 000 sticks of illicit cigarettes) cases smashed till end of August this year. This was effective in preventing the smuggling of illicit tobacco into the territory. In addition, Customs continues to carry out vigorous raiding activities in the territory, resulting in a notable scaling down of distribution and storage activities. It was observed that average seizure of illicit cigarettes was about 58 000 sticks in each case, which was a drop of 64% as compared with last year. Though syndicates changed the mode of illicit cigarette activities to speedy distribution by means of telephone ordering, Customs implemented dedicated operations against such activities and cracked down on 190 telephone ordering cases in the first eight months, representing a 50% increase as compared with last year.
In addition, no rising trend in illicit cigarette activities was observed after the increase of tobacco duty in February this year. Such activities were under control with Customs' stringent enforcement.
Customs will continue to deploy the strategy of combating illicit cigarette smuggling at source to curb the supply. Frequent raiding operations in the territory will persist with a view to suppressing distribution, storage and peddling of illicit cigarettes.
Members of the public are urged not to involve in such illegal activities and to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities via Customs' hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Tuesday, September 9, 2014