Hong Kong Customs Seizes 19,000 Illicit Cigarettes, Arrests Local Man in Phone Order Operation

Hong Kong Customs detects case of suspected illicit cigarette distribution by telephone ordering

Hong Kong Customs detected a case of suspected illicit cigarette distribution by telephone ordering yesterday (December 3) and seized about 19 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $90,000 and a duty potential of about $60,000. One local man was arrested.

Targeting the sale of illicit cigarettes by telephone orders, Customs officers took enforcement actions and posed as buyers to make orders of illicit cigarettes by calling the telephone numbers printed on suspected illicit cigarette leaflets. A man suspected of distributing illicit cigarettes was arrested at Cheung Wang Estate yesterday afternoon, and the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes was seized from the plastic bags carried by him and his private vehicle. The vehicle was also detained.

The arrestee, aged 39, who claimed to be a renovation worker, was charged with "dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies" and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts on December 17.

Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.

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 taking enforcement actions against illicit cigarette leaflets and 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 detects case of suspected illicit cigarette distribution by telephone ordering Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detects case of suspected illicit cigarette distribution by telephone ordering Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (December 4) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 13 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $2.6 million.

A 24-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds in his check-in baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug, and he will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (December 6).

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking 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 seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases