Customs officers of Revenue and General Investigation Bureau today (January 10) smashed an illicit cigarette distribution centre in San Po Kong, leading to the seizure of a total of 1.8 million sticks of illicit cigarettes, worth about $2.7 million and with duty potential of about $1.4 million.
While conducting an operation in San Po Kong at noon, Customs officers intercepted a Mainlander who was removing five cartons of illicit cigarettes from an industrial unit.
Subsequently, the officers raided the industrial unit and seized about 1.74 million sticks of illicit cigarettes.
The 30-year-old man, who was a two-way permit holder, was arrested. He will later be charged with "dealing with goods to which Dutiable Commodities Ordinance was applied".
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, the maximum penalty for dealing with dutiable goods is a fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment.
End/Tuesday, January 10, 2006