Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $26 million (with photo)

     Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 9) seized about 9.3 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $26 million and a duty potential of about $18 million in Tsuen Wan.

     During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in Tsuen Wan yesterday afternoon, Customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes at an industrial building unit. Two men suspected to be in connection with the case, aged 29 and 27, were arrested.

     Customs believes that a suspected illicit cigarette storehouse was raided during the operation. Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs will continue to combat illicit cigarette activities on all fronts through a multi-pronged approach.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes 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).