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Hong Kong Customs raids two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres in Sheung Shui (with photos)
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     ​Hong Kong Customs today (May 4) conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Sheung Shui, successfully dismantling two storage and distribution centres primarily operated by foreign domestic helpers. Two female foreign domestic helpers aged 40 and 48 were arrested, and around 200,000 suspected illicit cigarettes were seized, with an estimated market value of about $900,000 and a duty potential of approximately $660,000.
      
     Early this morning, Customs officers spotted two women carrying suspicious nylon bags in Choi Yuen Estate, Sheung Shui. Upon interception, about 90,000 suspected illicit cigarettes were found inside the bags. The two helpers were then escorted back to their employers' public rental housing units respectively for further investigation, where an additional 110,000 illicit cigarettes were uncovered.
      
     Based on preliminary investigation, the two arrested domestic helpers were suspected to use their co-living employers' public housing units as storage centres for illicit cigarettes. They used the flats as delivery addresses and collected the illicit cigarettes on "piecemeal basis" to avoid detection by their employers and distributed them during early hours on holidays. Customs will continue investigating the source and distribution channels of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
      
     Customs will also continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multi-pronged enforcement strategy targeting storage, distribution and peddling to spare no effort in combating illicit cigarette activities.
      
     Customs stresses that it is an offence to buy or sell illicit cigarettes. 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 $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
      
     Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette 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/Sunday, May 4, 2025
Issued at HKT 21:42
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Hong Kong Customs today (May 4) conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Sheung Shui, successfully dismantling two storage and distribution centres primarily operated by foreign domestic helpers. Around 200,000 suspected illicit cigarettes were seized in the operation, with an estimated market value of about $900,000 and a duty potential of approximately $660,000.
Hong Kong Customs today (May 4) conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Sheung Shui, successfully dismantling two storage and distribution centres primarily operated by foreign domestic helpers. Around 200,000 suspected illicit cigarettes were seized in the operation, with an estimated market value of about $900,000 and a duty potential of approximately $660,000. Photo shows some of the illicit cigarettes seized.