Hong Kong Customs and Sham Shui Po District of the Hong Kong Police Force mounted a joint-enforcement operation from September 18 to 30 and detected cases involving illicit cigarettes in the district. A total of about 100 000 illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $480,000, and a duty potential of about $350,000 were seized. Five persons connected with the cases were arrested.

     To combat illicit cigarette activities in Sham Shui Po District, Customs and the Police's Sham Shui Po District conducted multiple surprise inspections and raids, cracking down on 22 temporary illicit cigarette storage points and a mobile illicit cigarette stall. Two local men, two local women and a Vietnamese man were arrested. 
      
     Customs will continue the multipronged enforcement strategy to vigorously combat illicit cigarette activities. Customs reminds members of the public that under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), 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, its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Ends/Monday, October 5, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:30

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