Hong Kong Customs Seizes 350,000 Illicit Cigarettes, Arrests Three in Major Operation

Hong Kong Customs raids two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres

Hong Kong Customs today (October 8) detected two illicit cigarette cases and raided two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres in Kwai Chung and Kwun Tong. About 350 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.6 million and a duty potential of about $1.2 million were seized. Three persons suspected to be connected with the cases were arrested.

In the first case, Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Kwai Chung this morning and seized about 290 000 suspected illicit cigarettes inside a subdivided flat in an industrial building on Wo Yi Hop Road. A 33-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, both claiming to be unemployed, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.

In the second case, Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Kwun Tong in the same morning and intercepted a suspicious man in an industrial building on Hing Yip Street. Two thousand two hundred suspected illicit cigarettes were seized from his backpack, and the 62-year-old man, who claimed to be a transportation worker, was subsequently arrested. Later, Customs officers escorted the man to a mini-storage facility in the industrial building for a search and further seized about 61 000 suspected illicit cigarettes.

After preliminary investigations, Customs believed that the suspected illicit cigarette storage centres were primarily used to supply illicit cigarettes to areas in Kwai Chung and Kowloon East. Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

The three arrested persons were charged with "dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies". The two arrestees from the first case will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (October 9). The arrestee from the second case will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on November 10.

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.

Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. 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 $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).

Hong Kong Customs raids two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs raids two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EPD highly concerned over industrial accident at yard waste recycling centre

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) is highly concerned over an industrial accident that occurred yesterday (January 16) at the yard waste recycling centre, Y·PARK in Tuen Mun, and extends its sympathies to the injured worker and his family members.

At around 2pm yesterday, a worker sustained injury when his left palm was severed while attempting to clear stuck debris at an operating wood chipping machine. He remained conscious and was sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for treatment. The EPD immediately deployed staff to the hospital after the incident to understand the condition of the injured and provide his family members with appropriate assistance.

The EPD notified the Labour Department and the Police in the first instance. Staff from the Labour Department conducted on-site inspection and issued a suspension notice to the contractor, requiring suspension of operation of the concerned machinery until all improvement measures have been implemented. The EPD requested the contractor to fully co-operate with the Labour Department in its investigation, and demanded an incident report from the contractor within three days.

The safety of its facilities remains the top priority of the EPD, with close monitoring of contractors' operation in place. On the contractor's front, daily regular on-site inspections on occupational safety conditions and safety training for employees and its subcontractors are part of their requirements.