The Customs Anti-Smuggling Campaign conducted a total of 12 million yuan of goods arrested this month. 74 people were arrested, the oldest was 81 years old, and the youngest was 15 years old.

Burst

Author: Ling Yide

2020-05-29 20:37

Hai launched a large-scale anti-illicit cigarette operation in May and adopted a territory-wide and comprehensive search to crack down on illicit cigarette activities at different levels. A total of about 4.5 million cigarettes suspected of illicit cigarettes and suspected unpaid heated non-burning tobacco products (heated tobacco) were seized. With a market value of about 12 million yuan, the CCP arrested 74 buyers and sellers, the youngest being 15 years old and the oldest being 81 years old.

From May 1 to yesterday (28), the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department launched a large-scale anti-illicit cigarette operation code-named "Flying Eagle" in all districts of Hong Kong, with a comprehensive enforcement strategy to combat illicit cigarette activities from different levels, including cross-border smuggling, Storage, distribution and sale, etc. During the operation, the Customs detected a total of 94 cases and seized about 3.5 million suspected private cigarettes and about 1 million suspected unpaid heated non-burning tobacco products (heated tobacco). The estimated market value is about 12 million yuan and the taxable value is about 8.5 million. Yuan arrested 61 men and 13 women, aged between 15 and 81, including 22 private cigarette sellers and 25 buyers.

Of the 94 cases, 36 were smuggled. Customs officers seized about 3.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes and about 900,000 suspected unpaid duty heated cigarettes. Among them, 33 cases were smuggled using postal packets, while the other one was by sea. In the case of container smuggling, the largest number of suspected illicit cigarettes was seized. Customs officers seized about 2.2 million suspected illicit cigarettes in an entrance container at the inspection hall of the Kwai Chung Customs Building on May 18.   

There are 11 other cases involving storage and distribution. Customs officers seized a total of about 270,000 suspected illicit cigarettes and about 80,000 suspected unpaid taxes in Causeway Bay, Chai Wan, Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun. smoke.

The remaining 47 cases involved the sale of illicit cigarettes. Customs officers seized about 25,000 suspected illicit cigarettes and about 400 suspected unpaid duty heated cigarettes.

Customs said that smuggling is a serious crime. According to the Import and Export Regulations, anyone importing or exporting unmanifested cargo can be fined up to 2 million yuan and imprisoned for 7 years upon conviction.

According to the "Dutiable Commodities Regulations" ("Regulations"), tobacco is a dutiable commodity. Any heated cigarettes containing tobacco ingredients are dutiable and regulated by the Regulations. Anyone who illegally possesses, sells, or purchases taxable goods is illegal. Once convicted, the maximum penalty is a fine of $ 1 million and imprisonment for 2 years.

The Hong Kong Customs reminds the public that the sale of illicit cigarettes is illegal. Customs officers will continue to take strict enforcement actions to combat all types of illicit cigarette activities.

Members of the public can call the Customs 24-hour hotline 2545 6182, or report suspected illicit cigarette activities through a crime-only email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

Illicit cigarettes