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Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets (with photos)
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     Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation for two consecutive days (January 29 and 30) and raided three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets, which were three stores located in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan, seizing a total of about 13 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $58,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000. Three persons were arrested.  
      
     According to the amended Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty must be proven to be duty-paid, otherwise the cigarettes are presumed to be duty-not-paid.
      
     After the amended DCO took effect, Customs has been closely monitoring the market situation and stepping up patrols in various districts. Noting that there were still cigarette sales outlets selling cigarettes at a price lower than the tobacco duty, Customs officers took enforcement actions and seized the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes in the abovementioned stores. Two women and one man, comprising two salespersons and one shop owner, aged between 37 and 75, were arrested.

     Customs appeals to retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources. They must stay vigilant against cigarettes with a wholesale price lower than the tobacco duty in order to avoid criminal liability.

     Customs reminds retailers and members of the public that under the DCO, 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.
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     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/Friday, January 30, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:45
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Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation for two consecutive days (January 29 and 30) and raided three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets, which were three stores located in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan, seizing a total of about 13 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $58,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the suspected illicit cigarette sales outlet in Sheung Shui.
Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation for two consecutive days (January 29 and 30) and raided three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets, which were three stores located in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan, seizing a total of about 13 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $58,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the suspected illicit cigarette sales outlet in Kwai Chung.
Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation for two consecutive days (January 29 and 30) and raided three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets, which were three stores located in Sheung Shui, Kwai Chung and Chai Wan, seizing a total of about 13 000 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $58,000 and a duty potential of about $43,000. Three persons were arrested. Photo shows the suspected illicit cigarette sales outlet in Chai Wan.