Hong Kong Customs raids two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres in Kwun Tong
Hong Kong Customs shut down two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres in Kwun Tong today (September 9). A total of about 2.37 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized. The total estimated market value was about $10.67 million, while the duty potential was about $7.84 million. A Mainland male involved in the case was arrested.
Customs officers today searched two suspicious units in an industrial building in Kwun Tong and found the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes. A 29-year-old Mainland male was arrested at the scene.
The case is still under investigation. The arrested man was remanded pending further investigation. 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 combating illicit cigarette activities.
Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, 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 are urged to 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 in Kwun Tong Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Joint operation by Hong Kong Customs and law enforcement agencies of Chinese Mainland detect seaborne illicit cigarette smuggling case with seizure worth about $22 million
Hong Kong Customs and law enforcement agencies of the Chinese Mainland mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation yesterday (September 8) and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a high-powered speedboat in the northwest waters of Hong Kong. About 5 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $22 million and a duty potential of about $16.5 million, and a high-powered speedboat equipped with six outboard engines, were seized.
Based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs co-operated with the law enforcement agencies of the Chinese Mainland, including the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department and anti-smuggling departments of the Mainland Customs to conduct an anti-smuggling operation in the aforementioned waters yesterday. During the operation, in the waters off northwest of Chep Lap Kok, a suspicious speed boat was spotted heading towards Sha Chau with its navigation light off. Customs officers immediately took action to pursue and intercept the speedboat, but the speedboat accelerated and fled.
Later, Customs boardedthe speedboat and stopped the vessel for investigation. The speedboat was discovered to be equipped with six powerful outboard engines, and the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes was seized onboard the vessel. Two mainland men, aged 30 and 36, suspected of violating the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), were arrested.
Under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit motor spirit or cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment for motor spirit, or $2 million and seven years' imprisonment for cigarette.
Members of the public may report any illicit fuel or 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).
Joint operation by Hong Kong Customs and law enforcement agencies of Chinese Mainland detect seaborne illicit cigarette smuggling case with seizure worth about $22 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Joint operation by Hong Kong Customs and law enforcement agencies of Chinese Mainland detect seaborne illicit cigarette smuggling case with seizure worth about $22 million Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
