Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 28) intercepted a speedboat in the waters south off Cheung Chau and seized 240 litres of suspected illicit motor spirit and 34 suspected illicit cigarettes. During the operation, one local man was arrested.

     Customs yesterday afternoon identified a suspicious speedboat that entered Hong Kong waters at a high speed across the southern water boundary. Customs officers swiftly took action and intercepted the speedboat. Upon inspection, the batch of illicit motor spirit was contained in 12 jerry cans while 34 illicit cigarettes were found in the cockpit, with a total estimated market value of about $6,200 and a duty potential of about $1,500. One local man aged 49, suspected of violating the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), was arrested. 

     Under the DCO, anyone involved in importing, dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit motor spirit or cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and two years' imprisonment for illicit motor spirit, and $2 million and seven years' imprisonment for illicit cigarettes. 

     Members of the public may report any illicit fuel or 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/Monday, June 29, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:20

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