Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods and suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $1.3 million (with photo)
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Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including mobile phones, watches and handbags, and the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 54-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods and suspected illicit cigarettes would have been transhipped to overseas regions.
The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
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 upon conviction.
Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Thursday, April 24, 2025
Issued at HKT 14:40
Issued at HKT 14:40
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