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Hong Kong Customs today (March 22) swooped on a storehouse used by an illicit cigarette telephone-ordering syndicate in San Tin and seized about 1.3 million sticks of illicit cigarettes. The total value of the cigarettes was about $3.3 million with a duty potential of about $2.2 million. In the operation, three members of the syndicate aged between 28 and 35 were arrested.
Customs officers recently conducted a series of in-depth investigations into an active illicit cigarette telephone-ordering syndicate and found that the syndicate used a storehouse at a remote location to store illicit cigarettes.
The syndicate used a vehicle to convey the cigarettes from the storehouse to a designated point for delivery to other syndicate vehicles for speedy distribution to various buyers throughout the territory.
After comprehensive intelligence analysis and thorough investigation, Customs took action this morning. Three men were arrested when they were transferring cigarettes from the storehouse onto a light goods vehicle. The batch of illicit cigarettes was found in the storehouse. It is believed that the largest illicit cigarettes storehouse of the telephone-ordering syndicate has been dismantled.
The Divisional Commander (Anti-Illicit-Cigarette Investigation) of the Revenue and General Investigation Bureau, Mr Wan Hing-chuen, said today at a press briefing, "The operation reflected the effectiveness of the enforcement strategy. The Customs will strengthen manpower and continue to undertake stringent enforcement against illicit cigarette activities in order to protect government revenue."
Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession, 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' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182.
Ends/Friday, March 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:46
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