Customs arrests 14 over HK$6.2 million illicit cigarettes
HK01 · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong Customs said it had broken up multiple air passenger cigarette smuggling cases after a three-day enforcement operation at the airport from the 19th to the 21st of this month. Officers arrested 14 inbound travellers arriving from Southeast Asia and seized about 1.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of HK$6.2 million and a duty potential of about HK$4.5 million. Investigators found the travellers' checked baggage was packed with untaxed cigarettes and contained no personal belongings. All 14 were charged under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, and nine have already been convicted and jailed immediately for between eight and 20 months.
Key Points
- The 14 arrested passengers were aged between 23 and 56 and were intercepted at Hong Kong International Airport after flights from Southeast Asia.
- Customs said the operation ran for three consecutive days, from the 19th to the 21st of this month, targeting inbound air travellers.
- Officers seized roughly 1.4 million suspected illicit cigarettes, estimated to be worth HK$6.2 million, with unpaid duty of about HK$4.5 million.
- Customs said every suspect was prosecuted for handling, possessing or importing untaxed cigarettes, or for failing to declare them to officers
- One defendant who smuggled more than 180,000 illicit cigarettes into Hong Kong received the heaviest sentence of 20 months in prison.
Why It Matters
The case shows Customs is focusing on stopping cigarette smuggling at the airport entry point rather than only pursuing downstream sellers, with officers describing the operation as action taken from the source. For travellers and residents, the department also reiterated that importing, handling, possessing, selling or buying illicit cigarettes is illegal and can carry a maximum penalty of a HK$2 million fine and seven years' imprisonment