Hong Kong Customs detects sea smuggling case involving cigarettes and seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $83 million (with photo)
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Customs intercepted a suspicious cargo vessel in the waters off Tsing Yi at noon yesterday. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized the batch of illicit cigarettes inside two 40-foot containers on board the vessel and at the cabin of the vessel. Seven non-local men, including a skipper and six crew members, aged between 27 and 55, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
The arrested skipper will be charged with importing unmanifested cargo and will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (April 27). Customs will continue to trace the source and the flow of the illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will also 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.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Customs reminds members of the public that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:20
Issued at HKT 19:20
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