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Customs officers at Sha Tau Kok Control Point have seized 720,000 sticks of dutiable cigarettes, worth about $1.1 million and with duty potential of $580,000.
About 11am yesterday (July 16), Customs officers intercepted an arriving container truck and seized from the cargo container 60 cartons of dutiable cigarettes.
A 55-year-old Hong Kong man was arrested. He was charged with one count of importing unmanifested cargo under Import and Export Ordinance and one count of dealing with goods to which Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance.
Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Any person found guilty of dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies is liable on conviction to a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Ends/Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:47
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