Hong Kong Customs Seizes 400,000 Illicit Cigarettes Worth $1.8 Million in Major Smuggling Bust.

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (July 17) seized about 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1.8 million and a duty potential of about $1.3 million, at the Customs Tsing Yi Cargo Examination Compound.

Through risk assessment, Customs officers yesterday inspected a 20-foot seaborn consolidated container, declared as aluminum sheet, arriving in Hong Kong from Vietnam. Officers seized 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes inside one of the consignments. The criminals had modified hollowed-out aluminum sheets as a container to conceal the illicit cigarettes in an attempt to deter detection by Customs.

Customs stresses that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Moreover, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), any person who 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 seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.8 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

Two incoming passengers were each sentenced to seven months' imprisonment with a fine of $1,000 by the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts today (July 18) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO) (Cap. 109).

Customs officers intercepted two inbound private cars at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port on July 17. A 38-year-old Mainland female passenger and a 32-year-old Mainland male passenger, arriving in Hong Kong from Macao were arrested. A total of 88 400 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $450,000 and a duty potential of about $290,000, were seized from their personal baggage.

Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentences have imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public and travellers that under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Two incoming passengers convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases