Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 20) seized about 1.9 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $5.2 million and a duty potential of about $3.6 million at the River Trade Terminal Cargo Examination Compound in Tuen Mun.

     Customs officers inspected a 40-foot container declared to contain kitchenware arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside 208 cartons mix-loaded with 180 cartons of kitchenware 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.

     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).