Customs cracked a large-scale illicit cigarette case last Friday (10th), and seized about 42.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with a market value of about 120 million yuan and a taxable value of about 81 million yuan.
During the operation, Customs arrested two men, aged 56 and 65, including a container truck driver.
Customs investigations are still continuing, and more arrests cannot be ruled out.
Customs cracked a large-scale illicit cigarette case last Friday (10th), and seized about 42.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with a market value of about 120 million yuan and a taxable value of about 81 million yuan.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Ye Limin, Senior Investigation Director of the Tax Investigation Group 1 of the Customs Revenue Crime Investigation Division, explained the case this afternoon (13th) and pointed out that the Customs carried out anti-illicit cigarette operations in Tuen Mun and Fo Tan last Friday. On the other side of the road, a suspicious container truck was intercepted and 10 million suspected illicit cigarettes were found in a 40-foot-long container, and the driver was arrested on the spot.
Later, Customs officers found two more containers containing illicit cigarettes at the public unloading pier in Tuen Mun and a container yard in Lung Kwu Tan, with a total of about 22 million sticks.
Customs followed up with the investigation and raided an industrial building in Fo Tan. A container and truck containing illicit cigarettes were found in the unloading area, and a total of about 9.6 million illicit cigarettes were seized; a unit in the industrial building was then searched and about 800,000 were found Private cigarettes.
Customs cracked a large-scale illicit cigarette case last Friday (10th), and seized about 42.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with a market value of about 120 million yuan and a taxable value of about 81 million yuan.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Ye Limin said that so far this year, customs have seized 127 million unpaid cigarettes, with a market value of 350 million yuan and a taxable value of 242 million yuan.
Regarding the seizure of as many as 42.4 million sticks of illicit cigarettes this time, he estimated that the illicit cigarette group may have taken advantage of the recovery of logistics after the Lunar New Year holiday and shipped in large quantities of illicit cigarettes to ensure the supply of goods.
He pointed out that the smuggling group scattered the goods in different container yards and industrial buildings to reduce the risk of detection; transport.
Customs cracked a large-scale illicit cigarette case last Friday (10th), and seized about 42.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with a market value of about 120 million yuan and a taxable value of about 81 million yuan.
The picture shows Ye Limin, senior investigation director of the first tax investigation group of the Customs Tax Crime Investigation Division.
(Photo by Cai Zhengbang)
Customs reminds that smuggling is a serious crime. According to the "Import and Export Ordinance", anyone who imports or exports goods without a warehouse receipt will be fined up to 2 million yuan and imprisoned for 7 years; in addition, according to the "Dutable Commodities Ordinance", anyone It is an offense to deal with, possess, sell or buy illicit cigarettes. Upon conviction, a maximum fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment will be imposed.
Members of the public can call the customs reporting hotline or report illicit cigarette activities via email.
Customs seized $200 million in illicit cigarettes before the new year, arrested 50 people, prevented the group from transshipping overseas tax evasion, and earned the difference. Customs seized 1.44 million sticks of illicit cigarettes at Kwai Chung Container Terminal, with a market value of 3.96 million yuan.
