Hong Kong Customs and the Marine Police conducted a joint operation and detected a suspected case of smuggling illicit cigarettes at the jetty of the Lau Fau Shan fisheries market today (September 9). A total of about 210 000 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes were seized.

     Customs officers and the Marine Police mounted an anti-smuggling operation in Lau Fau Shan this morning. In the operation, officers found some suspicious persons moving foam boxes from a sampan to the ground at the jetty. Officers took immediate enforcement action. The persons immediately fled. About 210 000 sticks of suspected illicit cigarettes placed in 21 foam boxes were found at the jetty. The market value of the suspected illicit cigarettes was about $570,000, with a duty potential of about $400,000. The sampan used for smuggling the suspected illicit cigarettes was detained for investigation.

     Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possessing, selling and buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty on conviction is imprisonment for two years and a fine of $1 million.

     Members of the public are urged to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to the Customs hotline at 2545 6182.

Ends/Friday, September 9, 2016
Issued at HKT 19:13

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