Hong Kong Customs Seizes 10.9 Million Illicit Cigarettes in Major Smuggling Bust Operation Clear Sky

Hong Kong Customs' "Clear Sky" operation combats illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers and related illicit cigarette storage centres

Hong Kong Customs mounted an enforcement operation codenamed "Clear Sky" to combatillicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers and related illicit cigarette storage centres between March 3 and today (March 11), and cracked down on a transnational syndicate that smuggled illicit cigarettes through air passengers. A total of about 10.9 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $49 million and a duty potential of about $36 million were seized. Thirty persons connected with the cases were arrested.

In response to the trend that illicit cigarette syndicates have been making use of air passengers to smuggle illicit cigarettes, Customs strengthened enforcement against the smuggling of illicit cigarettes at the airport and related storage centres.

During the operation, Customs detected 18 illicit cigarette smuggling cases involving passengers at the airport and seized a total of about 800 000 suspected illicit cigarettes. Eighteen passengers, aged between 29 and 63 and arriving in Hong Kong from the East and Southeast Asian regions, were arrested.

Following intelligence analyses and in-depth investigations of the cases, Customs discovered that a cigarette smuggling syndicate had been using industrial buildings and remote metal huts as storage and distribution centres. The illicit cigarettes would berepackaged and subsequently supplied to the local area or transported to logistics centres for transshipment to regions with higher tobacco duties for profit.

Customs then mounted a series of enforcement actions in the city and raided a total of five suspected illicit cigarette storage centres in four industrial building units in Tuen Mun and Kwai Chung and one metal hut in San Tin. A total of about 10.1 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized and 12 persons, aged between 33 and 66, were arrested.

Twenty of the arrestees have beeen charged with dealing with or possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes, or failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Moreover, in the fourth quarter of 2025, Customs arrested 49 persons for smuggling in illicit cigarettes at the airport, and 47 of them were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment terms of between four weeks and nine months at the Magistrates' Courts. Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

It is believed that the supply chain of illicit cigarettes has been effectively intercepted at the source and disrupted within the territory. Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analyses for interception at source as well as through its multipronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities.

Under the DCO, 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).

Hong Kong Customs mounted an enforcement operation codenamed "Clear Sky" to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers and related illicit cigarette storage centres between March 3 and today (March 11). Photo shows some of the suspected illicit cigarettes seized from a suspected illicit storage centre in an industrial building in Kwai Chung. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs mounted an enforcement operation codenamed "Clear Sky" to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers and related illicit cigarette storage centres between March 3 and today (March 11). Photo shows some of the suspected illicit cigarettes seized from a suspected illicit storage centre in an industrial building in Tuen Mun. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs mounted an enforcement operation codenamed "Clear Sky" to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities involving air passengers and related illicit cigarette storage centres between March 3 and today (March 11). Photo shows some of the suspected illicit cigarettes seized at the airport. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Traffic and public transport arrangements upon commissioning of Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section)

The Transport Department (TD) said today (April 29) that the Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) will be commissioned at 8am on May 3 (Sunday). Motorists and members of the public are advised to heed the respective traffic and public transport arrangements.

The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post

Traffic arrangements

The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) connects Fanling Highway with the Fanling North New Development Area (NDA) and Sha Tau Kok Road - Lung Yeuk Tau, and is the first major transport infrastructure project completed under the development of the Northern Metropolis. Upon its commissioning, motorists can opt for the Bypass to travel to and from Lung Yeuk Tau, Luen Wo Hui and Fanling Highway in Fanling without passing through the busy roads in North District, providing greater convenience for travel to urban areas. The Bypass will also effectively divert the future traffic of the Fanling North NDA, alleviate the amount of traffic on the existing major roads in Fanling and Sheung Shui, and enhance the operational efficiency of the road network in North District.

Appropriate traffic signs and road markings will be put in place on relevant road sections to guide motorists to enter and exit the Bypass for various destinations. The TD appeals to motorists to heed traffic signs on-site and drive carefully when passing through the road sections concerned, and reduce speed and be courteous when approaching the new merging points.

Public transport arrangements

Following the commissioning of the Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange, the stops of New Territories Green Minubus route Nos. 506 (Chi Fuk Circuit - Luen Wo Hui (Circular)) and 507 (Ma Sik Road - Fanling Station (Circular)) have been relocated or reinstated. Passengers are advised to refer to the operators' notices on their locations.

In the initial period of the commissioning of the Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section), as motorists may take time to adapt to new road sections, it is anticipated that traffic may be busier during various periods. The Government urged motorists to refer to the driving guide, and choose appropriate routes for their journeys subject to actual traffic conditions.

The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the TD will closely monitor the traffic situation after the commissioning of the Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section). Motorists, transport trades and the public should plan their journeys ahead, reserve time to adapt to the new routes and adjust their commuting habits.

The Government will remind motorists about the new arrangements via leaflets, websites and variable message signs on major roads. The public should heed the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility mobile app.

The Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section), Photo source: reference image