Hong Kong Customs recently mounted enforcement operations to combat large-scale illicit cigarette smuggling activities by sea. From May 19 to 28, Customs detected two cases through intelligence exchanges, risk assessments and intelligence analyses. A total of about 52.8 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $238 million and a duty potential of about $175 million were seized.
      
     In the first case, Customs officers selected six 40-foot containers, declared as carrying grinding tools, arriving from Taiwan, China, and destined to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong for inspection from May 19 to 21 at the Customs Tsing Yi Cargo Examination Compound and the Kwai Chung Customshouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 31.8 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the six containers.
      
     In the second case, Customs officers selected two 40-foot containers, declared as carrying industrial modular systems, arriving from Singapore and destined to the Chinese Mainland via Hong Kong for inspection on May 28 at the Kwai Chung Customshouse Cargo Examination Compound. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 21 million suspected illicit cigarettes inside the two containers.
      
     The operations displayed Customs' enforcement effectiveness in intercepting cross-boundary illicit cigarettes at the source through co-operation with law enforcement agencies in the region. The department will continue to foster collaboration and strengthen intelligence exchanges between regional partners in law enforcement, and vigorously combat cross-border illicit cigarette activities.
      
     Customs stresses that smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance (Cap. 60), any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Moreover, under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), any person who deals with, possesses, sells or buys 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/Thursday, June 4, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:02

NNNN