Hong Kong customs officers have arrested a man caught with 20,000 illicit cigarettes hidden in his car at a border checkpoint. The 44-year-old was said to have been driving into the city through the Shenzhen Bay control point on Tuesday. He was intercepted by the officers, who found the cigarettes hidden in five false compartments in the vehicle’s doors and boot. The cigarettes had an estimated value of about HK$50,000 (US$6,373) and would have cost about HK$40,000 in duty fees, a customs spokesman said. The driver was arrested and the vehicle was detained. Separately, the department on Monday intercepted about 20 tonnes of hookah tobacco, which was suspected to be contraband, in a cargo container from Bulgaria at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound. The tobacco had an estimated market value of about HK$13 million and a duty potential of about HK$46 million. More than 20 million smuggled cigarettes seized in Hong Kong so far this year The container was declared as carrying daily necessities, but inspecting officers instead found the tobacco. Under the city’s Import and Export Ordinance, a person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo could face a maximum fine of HK$2 million and a prison term of seven years. The Dutiable Commodities Ordinance has a maximum penalty of HK$1 million and imprisonment for two years for dealing, possessing, selling or buying duty-not-paid tobacco.