Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 12) seized about 1 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $2.6 million and a duty potential of about $1.8 million in Kwai Chung.
During an anti-illicit cigarette operation yesterday, Customs officers inspected a truck at a logistics site in Kwai Chung. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes in 104 carton boxes mix-loaded with eight boxes of decoration lighting onboard the truck.
The 38-year-old male driver was arrested and the truck was detained. Investigation is ongoing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, July 13, 2018
