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
