Hong Kong Customs raids suspected illicit cigarette and alternative smoking product storage centre in Mong Kok (with photo)
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Customs officers conducted an anti-illicit cigarette operation in Mong Kok yesterday afternoon and intercepted a suspicious woman in a commercial building on Reclamation Street. About 10 000 suspected ASPs were seized from a carton box carried by her, and the 71-year-old woman, who claimed to be a retiree, was subsequently arrested. Later, Customs officers escorted the woman to a unit in the commercial building for a search and further seized about 76 000 suspected illicit cigarettes and about 182 000 suspected ASPs.
After preliminary investigations, Customs believed that the illicit cigarettes and ASPs seized would mainly be used to supply areas in Kowloon West through telephone ordering. The investigation of the case is ongoing, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
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, March 4, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:45
Issued at HKT 14:45
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