HK$358 million worth of contraband cigarettes seized in Hong Kong so far this year – up 137 per cent from whole of 2019
- The goods, if legally imported, would have helped the government generate more than HK$250 million in taxes
- Law enforcement source attributes increase in seizure volume to enhanced enforcement and interception of sea-route smuggling
Hong Kong authorities have confiscated HK$358 million (US$46 million) worth of contraband cigarettes so far this year – up 137 per cent from what was seized in the whole of 2019.
Nearly 133 million black-market cigarettes were seized between January 1 and April 15 this year. The goods, if legally imported, would have helped the government generate more than HK$250 million in taxes.
The haul was about 65 per cent of the 205 million illicit cigarettes confiscated last year. About 56 million contraband cigarettes worth HK$151 million were seized in 2019.
A law enforcement source attributed the sharp increase in the seizure volume to enhanced enforcement actions. “We struck whenever intelligence indicated contraband cigarettes were being smuggled into the city or illegal tobacco products were being stored,” he said.
He also said seizure numbers rose because illegal tobacco traders had used sea routes to smuggle cigarettes into the city due to the closure of major border checkpoints amid the coronavirus pandemic, and shipping containers could carry larger volumes of the contraband item.
The source added that smugglers were using circuitous routes to avoid detection.
“Black-market cigarettes are being shipped through various ports in Asian countries before being illegally smuggled to the final destination,” he said, adding that one such shipment might take several months to arrive.