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Customs smashes illicit cigarette warehouses in Yuen Long industrial buildings to inspect illicit cigarettes worth $10.3 million

2023-03-03T14:59:10.408Z


Since last week's budget announced the increase in tobacco tax, Customs has uncovered a number of cigarette smuggling cases. Officers found a suspicious-looking truck parked opposite an industrial building on Leung Yip Street, Yuen Long this afternoon (3rd)


Since last week's budget announced the increase in tobacco tax, Customs has uncovered a number of cigarette smuggling cases.

Officers found a suspicious-looking truck parked opposite an industrial building on Leung Yip Street, Yuen Long this afternoon (3rd). A driver unloaded the cargo by himself and moved some suspicious cardboard boxes to the warehouse.

Officers stopped and checked, seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes, arrested a 34-year-old man suspected of being involved in the case, and seized the suspected truck involved in the case.

About 2.8 million illicit cigarettes were seized, with an estimated market value of about 10.3 million yuan and a taxable value of about 7 million yuan.


Customs arrested a 34-year-old man suspected to be involved in the case and detained the suspected truck.

(Photo by Chen Haoran)

Leung Kai-chung, Senior Investigation Officer of Customs Revenue Crime Investigation Division, said that in the past week, Customs launched a Hong Kong-wide anti-illicit cigarette operation, cracked more than 50 cases, seized 6.8 million sticks of illicit cigarettes, with a market value of 25 million yuan and a taxable value of 17 million Yuan, 33 people were arrested, including 28 men and 5 women.

Customs also detained two trucks involved in the case.

The case is still under investigation.

Customs will continue to trace the source and whereabouts of illicit cigarettes, and it is not ruled out that more people will be arrested.

Customs will also continue to intercept cigarettes at the source based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and strive to combat illicit cigarette activities through a multi-pronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and sales.

Customs emphasized that buying and selling illicit cigarettes is also illegal.

According to the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone who deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offense and is liable to a maximum fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment upon conviction.

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2023-03-03

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