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Customs officers of Anti-illicit Cigarette Investigation Division today (January 4) smashed a mobile illicit cigarette distribution center in a remote carpark at So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun. A total of 1,407,000 sticks of cigarettes were seized with the arrest of one Hong Kong man (aged 54). The market value of seizure is at HK $ 1.97 million and the duty potential is at HK $ 1.13 million. Meanwhile, a box-typed lorry being used for cigarette delivery had also been detained.
After a series of investigation and intelligence analysis, Customs officers detected that a cigarette smuggling syndicate made use of the aforesaid carpark to shadow their cigarette distribution activities. Customs officers then mounted a strategic operation in this carpark today. At 4.10am, a suspicious vehicle was seen entering the said carpark and its driver intended to unload the goods. At this moment, Customs officers who had already laid ambush nearby approached and intercepted this lorry for search. As a result, the aforesaid seizure was found inside the compartment of the lorry. Preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate still adopted the 䩕speedy mode蒅 of illicit cigarette distribution in which all the smuggled cigarettes had been sorted and re-packed according to the purchase orders. In this way, the cigarettes could be instantly distributed to the buyers at various spots. This mode largely reduced the risk of being intercepted by law enforcement officers. It was believed that the cigarette seizures were originated from the Mainland and they had been smuggled into Hong Kong by sea-mode. Follow-up investigation into this case is still undergoing.
The arrestee would have been charged with the offence of 䩕Dealing with goods to which Dutiable Commodities Ordinance was applied蒅. The case would be brought up for plea in Tuen Mun Magistracy later. Besides, respective trademark owners of tobacco industry would conduct inspection on the cigarette seizures. Once counterfeit cigarettes are found, Customs will lay additional charge against the offender under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.
Customs appeals to members of the public to call the Customs 24-hour hotline at 2545 6182 for reporting suspected illicit cigarette activities. Customs spokesman reiterates that Customs would continue to take intensive effort in deterring illicit cigarette activities with a view to protecting government revenue.
According to the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, any person who is convicted of dealing, possession, selling or buying illicit cigarettes shall be liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $1,000,000 and 2-year imprisonment.
Ends/Thursday, January 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:57
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