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Customs officers had stepped up enforcement in December against illicit cigarettes activities during the festive seasons, Deputy Head of Revenue and General Investigation Bureau, Mr Ng Yan-kwong, said today (December 22).
"We are targeting both the distribution and retail levels of the illicit cigarette activities, particularly syndicated activities, to protect Government revenue," he said.
Customs officers cracked three illicit cigarette cases between December 19 and 21, including the neutralisation of an illicit cigarette syndicate on December 21.
Overall, Customs officers seized about 3.18 million sticks of illicit cigarettes, worth about $4.45 million and with duty potential of about $2.55 million. Five men, aged between 25 and 56, were arrested.
In an operation yesterday (December 21), Customs officers foiled an attempt by a syndicate active in New Territories West to smuggle into Hong Kong from the Mainland large quantity of illicit cigarettes to meet with the festive demand. From two vans in Yuen Long they seized 2.68 million sticks of illicit cigarettes, worth about $3.75 million and with duty potential of about $2.15 million. A 36-year-old male driver was arrested.
Earlier this month, Customs officers found that cigarettes were being smuggled overseas in parcels. Customs officers yesterday (December 21) smashed an illicit cigarette storage centre in Tsuen Wan, leading to the seizure of 230,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes, worth about $320,000 and with duty potential of about $180,000. Two Mainland men, aged 29 and 33, who were about to post parcels to the United Kingdom were arrested.
In another development on December 19, Customs officers arrested a 56-year-old man in Cheung Sha Wan and a 25-year-old man in Yuen Long. They were suspected of distributing illicit cigarettes. The officers seized 270,000 sticks of illicit cigarettes, worth about $380,000 and with duty potential of $220,000.
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, the maximum penalty for dealing with dutiable goods is a fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment.
Ends/Friday, December 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:05
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