Hong Kong Customs raids two suspected illicit cigarette storage centres (with photos)
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In the first case, Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Kwai Chung this morning and seized about 290 000 suspected illicit cigarettes inside a subdivided flat in an industrial building on Wo Yi Hop Road. A 33-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, both claiming to be unemployed, suspected to be connected with the case were arrested.
In the second case, Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Kwun Tong in the same morning and intercepted a suspicious man in an industrial building on Hing Yip Street. Two thousand two hundred suspected illicit cigarettes were seized from his backpack, and the 62-year-old man, who claimed to be a transportation worker, was subsequently arrested. Later, Customs officers escorted the man to a mini-storage facility in the industrial building for a search and further seized about 61 000 suspected illicit cigarettes.
After preliminary investigations, Customs believed that the suspected illicit cigarette storage centres were primarily used to supply illicit cigarettes to areas in Kwai Chung and Kowloon East. Customs will continue to trace the source of the illicit cigarettes, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
The three arrested persons were charged with "dealing with goods to which the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance applies". The two arrestees from the first case will appear at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts tomorrow (October 9). The arrestee from the second case will appear at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on November 10.
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 $2 million and imprisonment for seven 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, October 8, 2025
Issued at HKT 18:33
Issued at HKT 18:33
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