**********************************************************
Customs officers at Man Kam To and Lok Ma Chau Control Points have cracked two cases of smuggled cigarettes, seizing from two incoming lorries a total of about three million sticks of unmanifested cigarettes, worth about $4.5 million with duty potential of about $2.4 million.
About 9.25am on Saturday (March 4), Customs officers of Man Kam To Control Point intercepted an incoming lorry from Shenzhen, which declared to be carrying toys, furniture, and plastic goods.
From the cargo compartment they seized about 290,000 sticks of unmanifested cigarettes, valued at about $435,000 with duty potential of $230,000.
About 7.10pm yesterday (March 5), Customs officers of Lok Ma Chau Control Point intercepted an incoming lorry from Shenzhen, which declared to be carrying garments.
From the cargo compartment, they seized about 2.71 million sticks of unmanifested cigarettes, worth about $4.065 million with a duty potential of $2.17 million.
The two cases were unrelated.
Two male drivers, aged 33 and 47, were arrested. They will be charged with "importing unmanifested cargo" under the Import and Export Ordinance.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum penalty of a $2 million fine and seven years' imprisonment.
Ends/Monday, March 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:50
NNNN
