Hong Kong Customs detects two sea smuggling cases and seizes suspected illicit cigarettes worth about $3.5 million (with photos)
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Customs took over an illicit cigarette storage case from the Hong Kong Police Force on September 21 for follow-up investigation, which later revealed that crime syndicates repacked illicit cigarettes as genuine cargo pending transhipment, waiting for a chance to smuggle the illicit cigarettes into foreign countries or regions with higher duty rates on tobacco than Hong Kong for profit.
Customs officers subsequently took enforcement actions on September 22 and 24 and intercepted two sea consignments destined for Australia, and seized the batch of illicit cigarettes.
In the first case, Customs officers on September 22 selected and examined a consignment declared as carrying auto parts at a logistics warehouse in Tin Shui Wai. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 400 000 suspected illicit cigarettes from the consignment.
In the second case, Customs officers on September 24 selected and examined a 40-foot seaborne container, also declared as carrying auto parts, at the Customs Tsing Yi Cargo Examination Compound. Customs officers seized about 380 000 million suspected illicit cigarettes from the container.
An investigation is ongoing. Customs will continue to trace the source and flow of the suspected illicit cigarettes. The likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and step up enforcement actions to combat smuggling of illicit cigarettes. 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/Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:10
Issued at HKT 12:10
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