​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (January 3) detected two suspected sea-bound smuggling cases of cigarettes at the Tsing Yi Customs Cargo Examination Compound and seized about 1 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $2.8 million and a duty potential of about $1.9 million.
Through risk assessment, Customs yesterday selected for inspection two 20-foot containers, both declared as carrying ceramic tableware, arriving in Hong Kong from Ningbo, the Mainland for re-exporting to Australia. Upon inspection, Customs officers found that each of the two containers had concealed about 500 000 suspected illicit cigarettes.
Investigations of the two cases are ongoing.
Customs will continue its intelligence analysis and risk assessment for interception at source to combat illicit cigarette activities.
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).
