Hong Kong Customs detects two cases with seizures of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco worth about $52 million (with photos)

​Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on June 2 and yesterday (June 5). A total of about 11.6 tonnes of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of over $52 million and a duty potential of about $35 million, were seized.

In the first case, through risk assessment, Customs on June 2 selected for inspection a 40-foot container, declared as carrying carpets, arriving from Guangdong, the Mainland to Hong Kong for re-exporting to Australia. Upon a thorough inspection, Customs officers found about 410 carton boxes, which carried a batch of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco packed in transparent plastic bags, inside the container. The total weight of the tobacco was about 9 900 kilograms and the estimated market value was about $44.8 million.

In the second case, Customs yesterday selected for inspection a 40-foot container, declared as carrying assorted goods, through risk assessment. The container was also arriving from Guangdong, the Mainland to Hong Kong for re-exporting to Australia. Upon a thorough inspection, Customs officers found about 80 carton boxes, which carried a batch of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco packed in tea leaf packaging bags, inside the container. The total weight of the tobacco was about 1 700kg and the estimated market value was about $7.5 million.

Investigations of the above-mentioned two cases are ongoing.

Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source to combat illicit cigarette activities for protection of revenue.

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/Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on June 2 and yesterday (June 5). A total of about 11.6 tonnes of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of over $52 million and a duty potential of about $35 million, were seized. Photo shows the suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco seized by Customs officers in the first case.

Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on June 2 and yesterday (June 5). A total of about 11.6 tonnes of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of over $52 million and a duty potential of about $35 million, were seized. Photo shows some suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco packed in transparent plastic bags found by Customs officers in the first case.

Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on June 2 and yesterday (June 5). A total of about 11.6 tonnes of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of over $52 million and a duty potential of about $35 million, were seized. Photo shows the suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco seized by Customs officers in the second case.

Hong Kong Customs detected two suspected smuggling cases at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound on June 2 and yesterday (June 5). A total of about 11.6 tonnes of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco, with an estimated market value of over $52 million and a duty potential of about $35 million, were seized. Photo shows some suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco packed in a tea leaf packaging bag found by Customs officers in the second case.