Hong Kong Customs today (March 26) seized about 570 000 suspected illicit heat-not-burn (HNB) products with an estimated market value of about $1.6 million and a duty potential of about $1.1 million at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.
Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 20-foot container declared as containing foods and daily goods arriving in Hong Kong from Kobe, Japan. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit HNB products inside 79 cartons mix-loaded with other 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.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. All HNB products containing tobacco in content are also dutiable goods subject to the control of the DCO. Any person who imports, possesses, sells or buys dutiable commodities without a valid licence 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).
Ends/Thursday, March 26, 2020
