***********************************************************
Hong Kong Customs today (June 27) smashed an illicit cigarette smuggling case at Lok Ma Chau Control Point. On board a cross-boundary lorry, a total of 86 boxes containing around 1.05 million sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were found. The total value is about $2.6 million with a duty potential of about $1.8 million. In the operation, a 47-year-old man was arrested and the lorry was also seized.
At about 6.45am this morning, Customs officers at Lok Ma Chau Control Point intercepted a logistics lorry. Upon X-ray inspection, 1.05 million sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes were found while the driver was arrested immediately.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, smuggling is a serious offence. The maximum penalty is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement against cigarette smuggling activities to protect government revenue.
Members of the public are urged to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to the Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Issued at HKT 23:03
NNNN