Press Release
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected smuggled goods (with photo)
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 4) seized about 300 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $800,000 and a duty potential of about $600,000 together with 2 705 cartons of unmanifested assorted goods with an estimated market value of about $300,000 at the River Trade Terminal Cargo Examination Compound in Tuen Mun.
Customs officers yesterday inspected a 40-foot container declared to contain assorted goods arriving in Hong Kong from Guangzhou. After inspection, Customs officers found 28 cartons containing a total of about 300 000 suspected illicit cigarettes mix-loaded with the batch of unmanifested goods inside the container.
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.
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/Friday, October 5, 2018