The Smoking (Public Health) ((Amendment) Ordinance 2021, which will come into force tomorrow (30th), will prohibit the import, promotion, manufacture, sale or commercial possession of alternative smoking products, including electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and Herbal cigarettes. Before the ordinance came into effect, Hong Kong Customs cracked down on illegal hoarding and profiteering after the enactment of the law. In the past month, a series of enforcement operations have been carried out, a total of 52 cases have been detected and about 2.6 million suspected unfinished cigarettes have been seized. Taxes on products such as heated cigarettes, e-cigarettes and e-liquids, with a total value of about 15 million yuan and a taxable value of 5 million Hong Kong dollars.
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Lai Enning, commander of the Air Cargo Data Research Team of the Airport Branch of Hong Kong Customs, explained the case that Customs has carried out a series of enforcement actions against unpaid heating cigarettes and electronic cigarette products suspected of containing nicotine in the past month.
Through risk management and data analysis, Customs officers detected a total of 42 smuggling cases at the Hong Kong International Airport and Shenzhen Bay Control Point. Most of the illegal products were imported into Hong Kong by postal parcels and air cargo, while a small number were smuggled through land channels.
After customs officers selected parcels for further inspection, a total of about 1.9 million suspected unpaid heating cigarettes, 190,000 electronic cigarette products suspected of containing nicotine, and 5,000 ml of electronic cigarette oil suspected of containing nicotine were successfully seized. Previously, it blocked a batch of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products illegally flowing into Hong Kong.
Cai Jingheng, Commander of the Third Taxation Investigation Unit of the Tax Crime Investigation Bureau, pointed out that in addition to intercepting the entry level, the Customs Revenue Investigation Bureau also carried out comprehensive enforcement on domestic storage, distribution and sales. During the operation, customs officers were in Tuen Mun and Sheung Shui. , Cheung Shet Bay, Kwun Tong, Lam Tin, To Kwa Wan and Causeway Bay, a total of 9 cases of storage, distribution and sale were detected, and two storage warehouses of suspected unpaid heating cigarettes were smashed.
During the operation, officers seized about 680,000 suspected unpaid heating cigarettes, detained 3 vehicles suspected of distributing unpaid heating cigarettes, and arrested 9 men and 2 women, aged between 28 and 52.
The case is still under investigation and more arrests cannot be ruled out.
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Cai Jingheng continued to point out that the recent smuggling methods of criminals mainly rely on air and land routes, importing suspected unpaid heating cigarettes and electronic cigarette products into Hong Kong, and then placing them in mini warehouses and industrial buildings for storage.
After receiving the order, they will use van and private delivery to deliver the goods. In addition, they also use crowded places such as village houses, public housing, and subway stations for delivery.
Cai Jingheng explained that in general, a 200-stick heated cigarette costs about 300 yuan, and the retail price is 500 yuan, so criminals can make huge profits by smuggling.
Customs reminds the public and the trade that the Smoking (Public Health) ((Amendment) Ordinance 2021 will come into effect tomorrow. According to the Ordinance, no one may import, promote, sell or possess for commercial purposes any alternative smoking products. Alternative smoking products include electronic cigarettes , heated cigarettes, herbal cigarettes and any related appliances, accessories and parts, offenders, upon conviction, can be fined up to 50,000 yuan and imprisoned for 6 months.
