Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $24 million (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs on August 21 seized about 8.9 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $24 million and duty potential of about $17 million at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals. 

     Through risk assessment, Customs officers selected for inspection a 40-foot transshipment container, declared as carrying kettles, arriving from Nansha, Guangdong, and heading for Chile via Hong Kong. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside the container.

     Investigation is ongoing.

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

     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).