According to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s press release website on August 29, Hong Kong customs seized about 130,000 suspected illicit cigarettes on August 20 at the customs arrival cargo inspection building of the Hong Kong-zhuhai-macao Bridge (HZMB-RHonghKongkong boundary crossing facilities, it has a market value of about HK $620,000(568,000 yuan) and a duty potential of about HK $450,000(412,000 yuan) .
Hong Kong customs seized about 130000 suspected illicit cigarettes. Photo: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government press release
Hong Kong customs passed a risk assessment on May 20 to identify an incoming lorry declared to be carrying cross-boundary e-commerce goods, a press release said. Upon inspection, customs officers seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes from 26 light boxes on board the vehicle and arrested the 56-year-old male driver. The case is still under investigation.
Hong Kong customs reminds that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the import and export ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of HK $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Under the dutiable commodities ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $one million and imprisonment for two years.