Hong Kong Customs Seizes 51 Million Illicit Cigarettes in Major Smuggling Crackdown

Hong Kong Customs detects four large-scale sea smuggling cases with suspected illicit cigarettes and duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco seizure worth about $240 million

Hong Kong Customs stepped up efforts to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities by sea. Through risk assessment and intelligence analysis, four related cases involving sea containers were detected from October 3 to 21. A total of about 51 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 1 700 kilograms of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco with an estimated total market value of about $240 million and a duty potential of about $180 million were seized.

In the first case, Customs on October 3 selected and inspected a 40-foot container, arriving from Thailand to Hong Kong and declared as carrying rice noodles, at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 8 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the container, and a 63-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.

In the second case, on October 10, Customs selected and inspected two 40-foot containers, arriving from Singapore via the Mainland to Hong Kong and declared as carrying lighting accessories and kitchen utensils, at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 21 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the containers.

In the third case, Customs inspected a 40-foot container declared as carrying kitchen utensils and arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam via the Mainland on October 16. About 10 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized, and a 66-year-old truck driver was arrested. During the subsequent control delivery operation on the same day, Customs officers further arrested a 44-year-old man at a metal hut in Tong Yan San Tsuen, Yuen Long. The next day, they seized about 1.8 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 1 700kg of suspected duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco at another metal hut in Kwu Tung, New Territories.

In the fourth case, after a follow-up investigation, Customs on October 21 inspected a 40-foot container, arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam via the Mainland and declared as carrying kitchen utensils, at the Tuen Mun River Trade Terminal Customs Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 11 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside.

Investigations of the four cases are ongoing.

Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating 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.

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.

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Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detects four large-scale sea smuggling cases with suspected illicit cigarettes and duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco seizure worth about $240 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects four large-scale sea smuggling cases with suspected illicit cigarettes and duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco seizure worth about $240 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects four large-scale sea smuggling cases with suspected illicit cigarettes and duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco seizure worth about $240 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects four large-scale sea smuggling cases with suspected illicit cigarettes and duty-not-paid manufactured tobacco seizure worth about $240 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming passenger was sentenced to 29 days of imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 23) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming 58-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (May 22) and seized 1 981 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from him. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $8,100, and the duty potential was about $6,500. He was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a 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 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases