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Hong Kong Customs detects seaborne illicit cigarette smuggling case with seizure worth about $10 million (with photos)
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     Hong Kong Customs today (October 27) mounted an enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities by sea and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a high-powered speedboat in the southeast waters of Hong Kong. About 2.23 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $10 million and a duty potential of about $7.37 million, and a high-powered speedboat equipped with three outboard engines, were seized.

     Customs officers in the small hours of today conducted an anti-smuggling operation in the southeast waters of Hong Kong. During the operation, in the waters southeast of Ninepin Group, a suspicious speedboat was spotted heading towards South Ninepin Island with its navigation light off. Customs officers immediately took action to pursue and intercept the speedboat, but the speedboat accelerated and fled.
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     Later, Customs boarded the speedboat and stopped the vessel for investigation. The speedboat was discovered to be equipped with three powerful outboard engines, and the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes was seized onboard the vessel. Two Mainland men, aged 32 and 39, suspected of violating the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), were 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 motor spirit, or $2 million and seven years' imprisonment for 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/Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:00
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Hong Kong Customs today (October 27) mounted an enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities by sea and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a high-powered speedboat in the southeast waters of Hong Kong. About 2.23 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $10 million and a duty potential of about $7.37 million, and a high-powered speedboat equipped with three outboard engines, were seized. Photo shows the suspected duty-not-paid cigarettes seized.
Hong Kong Customs today (October 27) mounted an enforcement operation to combat illicit cigarette smuggling activities by sea and detected a suspected smuggling case involving a high-powered speedboat in the southeast waters of Hong Kong. About 2.23 million suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $10 million and a duty potential of about $7.37 million, and a high-powered speedboat equipped with three outboard engines, were seized. Photo shows the high-powered speedboat equipped with three outboard engines seized.