HK$120 million worth of illegal cigarettes seized, 6 arrested in land-sea operations by Hong Kong customs
- Latest hauls last Friday and Saturday pushed the total value of contraband tobacco products seized this year to HK$1.4 billion
- Volume of untaxed tobacco products uncovered as of October 18 already well above that in whole of 2021
Hong Kong customs arrested six people after seizing HK$120 million (US$15.3 million) worth of black-market cigarettes in two operations at sea and on land in less than 24 hours, it was revealed on Thursday.
A source said the seized tobacco products were believed to have been a restock for the underground market after authorities confiscated 70.3 million illicit cigarettes worth more than HK$214 million between September 1 and October 13.
The latest hauls last Friday and Saturday pushed the total value of contraband tobacco products seized this year to HK$1.4 billion, according to the Customs and Excise Department.
One of the operations was carried out at noon last Friday when customs officers from the ports and marine command intercepted a barge being towed by a tugboat off the Yau Ma Tei cargo handling area.
Four Hong Kong men were in the vessels, with only two shipping containers on the barge.
Senior Inspector Chan King-fung from the customs branch on Thursday said officers noticed the barge did not display its name as required by law.
He said officers decided to open the containers for inspection after the captain only provided an incomplete document that failed to show details of the sender and recipient of the cargo, as well as related information on the goods.
