In view of the arrival of the Lunar New Year, Hong Kong Customs in the past two weeks has taken a territory-wide multipronged enforcement approach to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts. During the operation, a total of 49 illicit cigarette cases were detected and a total of about 71 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $200 million and a duty potential of about $140 million were seized.
At the cross-boundary smuggling level, Customs on January 11 detected a large-scale seaborne illicit cigarette smuggling case. Customs officers on that day searched six 40-foot containers and a 20-foot container on a barge parking at the cargo working area in Yau Ma Tei. About 69 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $190 million and a duty potential of about $130 million were seized.
Furthermore, at the storage, distribution and peddling level, Customs has mounted an enforcement operation codenamed "Thunder" to step up enforcement to combat illicit cigarette activities in town, including illicit cigarette telephone ordering activities in public rental housing (PRH). During the operation, Customs officers detected 48 relevant cases in different districts, including Chai Wan, Quarry Bay, Causeway Bay, Sau Mau Ping, Ngau Tau Kok, Wong Tai Sin, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon Tong, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Sham Shui Po, Tseung Kwan O, Kwai Chung, Kwai Fong, Tsuen Wan, Sha Tin, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun and Tung Chung, and seized about 2 million suspected illicit cigarettes. At the same time, Customs officers have raided three suspected illicit cigarette storage centres and detained two vehicles suspected to be used for illicit cigarette distribution.
In the above-mentioned cases, 43 men and seven women, aged between 16 and 82, were arrested, including both illicit cigarette sellers and buyers. All the cases have been duly followed up.
With the Lunar New Year holidays approaching, Customs will continue to step up enforcement to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities through risk assessment, intelligence analysis and interception at source before and during the holidays. If PRH units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette activities, Customs will notify the Housing Department for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings.
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.
Customs reminds members of the public that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. 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 Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
