Hong Kong Customs Seizes 13,000 Illicit Cigarettes in Two-Day Enforcement Operation, Three Arrested

Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets

Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation for two consecutive days (January 29 and 30) and raided three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets, which were three stores located in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan, seizing a total of about 13 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $58,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000. Three persons were arrested.

According to the amended Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty must be proven to be duty-paid, otherwise the cigarettes are presumed to be duty-not-paid.

After the amended DCO took effect, Customs has been closely monitoring the market situation and stepping up patrols in various districts. Noting that there were still cigarette sales outlets selling cigarettes at a price lower than the tobacco duty, Customs officers took enforcement actions and seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes in the abovementioned stores. Two women and one man, comprising two salespersons and one shop owner, aged between 37 and 75, were arrested.

Customs appeals to retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources. They must stay vigilant against cigarettes with a wholesale price lower than the tobacco duty in order to avoid criminal liability.

Customs reminds retailers and members of the public that under the DCO, 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 three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Announcement on Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2025

The Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) announced today (January 30) that it noted public discussions on the scope of application of the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2025. Having consulted the Department of Justice, it is considered that there are technical deficiencies in those legal provisions which state the requirement on passengers to wear seat belts on franchised and non-franchised buses. Those provisions do not fully reflect the legislative intent, which is to extend the statutory requirement for the wearing of seat belts to all vehicle seats, thereby providing better protection for passengers.

The TLB will promptly repeal the relevant provisions (i.e., Section 8D and related provisions (if applicable)) of the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) Regulations (Chapter 374F)by way of publishing in the Gazette as subsidiary legislation. Upon repealing, there will be no statutory requirement for passengers to wear seat belts on franchised or non-franchised buses; for the period leading up to the repeal of relevant provisions, the Government will not enforce the provision. The statutory requirement for the wearing of seat belts on other types of vehicles (including private cars, taxis, goods vehicles, light buses, special purpose vehicles, student service vehicles) will remain in effect.

As the next step, we will gather opinions from various stakeholders, and consider how best to ensure road safety while addressing the concerns raised during the implementation of new requirements. We will further consult the Legislative Council after optimising the arrangements, and reintroducing them at an appropriate time. Meanwhile, we will continue to enhance publicity and education efforts to encourage the voluntary habit of wearing seat belts.

Source: AI-found images