Customs officers foiled a smuggling attempt at Man Kam To Control Point yesterday (August 16) and seized about $6.7 million worth of assorted brands of cigarettes from an incoming lorry.
The duty potential of the seized cigarettes was about $3.6 million.
Shortly before 10am, Customs officers intercepted and searched an incoming lorry arriving to Hong Kong from Shenzhen, declared to be carrying plastic boxes. As a result, they found about 4.5 million sticks of assorted brands of cigarettes inside the cargo compartment.
A 44-year-old male driver was arrested.
A spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said today (August 17) that investigations were continuing. He warned the public that it is an offence to import unmanifested goods.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, the maximum penalty for importing unmanifested goods is a fine of $2 million and seven years' imprisonment.
Ends/Tuesday, August 17, 2004