Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (May 23) seized about 2.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $5.8 million and a duty potential of about $4.1 million at Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound.

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers inspected a 20-foot container declared to contain personal cleaning products arriving in Hong Kong from India. After inspection, Customs officers found 180 cartons containing a total of about 2.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes mix-loaded with six cartons of personal cleaning products 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 the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).