Hong Kong Customs raids two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres in Sham Shui Po (with photos)
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Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Sham Shui Po this afternoon and spotted a suspicious man moving some carton boxes near an illicit cigarette black spot in Kweilin Street. Customs officers then intercepted the man and found about 70 000 suspected illicit cigarettes. After follow-up investigations, about 80 000 and about 850 000 illicit cigarettes were uncovered respectively from two units at a nearby rear lane.
After preliminary investigations, Customs believes that the two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres have been operating for about three months, supplying illicit cigarettes to the aforesaid black spot. An investigation is ongoing.
Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a territory-wide enforcement operation codenamed "Thunder" since last week to combat illicit cigarette telephone-ordering activities, including illicit cigarette storage centres, black spots and peddling. Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis for interception at source as well as through its multipronged 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/Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Issued at HKT 21:00
Issued at HKT 21:00
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