​Hong Kong Customs has been mounting a decoy operation targeting cigarette retail points in various districts in Hong Kong since November 3. A total of about 128 000 suspected illicit cigarettes, with an estimated market value of about $580,000 and a duty potential of about $420,000, have been seized. Ten persons have been arrested.

     Customs has been closely monitoring the market situation. It has also been staying alert to recent reports indicating that some retail points are selling illicit cigarettes, as well as "cheap whites" priced below the level of statutory duty. Customs is highly concerned about the situation and promptly met with relevant parties to gather information, upon which they conducted an investigation and prepared for the operation.

     During the operation, Customs officers disguised as customers and conducted test buys at different cigarette retail points, including newsstands, grocery shops and hawker stalls. Some retail points were found to offer cigarettes for sale at a price less than the statutory duty imposed thereon. As at today (November 5), Customs has taken prompt enforcement actions against seven cigarette retail points in Yau Ma Tei, Sham Shui Po, Tsuen Wan, Shau Kei Wan, Tuen Mun and Kwun Tong, and arrested the shop owners and staff. Ten persons, comprising five men and five women aged between 43 and 90, were arrested.

     The operation is ongoing in different districts. If newsstands and retail shops are involved in offences related to duty-not-paid cigarettes, Customs will take prompt enforcement actions and will notify relevant departments for follow-up actions on matters related to leases and licences after the conclusion of court proceedings. 

     Customs reminds cigarette retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources and stay alert to cigarettes supplied at a price less than the statutory duty. Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), if a cigarette is offered for sale or supply at a consideration the value of which is less than the rate of duty imposed on the cigarette, the cigarette is dutiable goods. In addition, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying duty-not-paid 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/Thursday, November 5, 2026
Issued at HKT 17:15

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