Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected illicit cigarettes (with photo)
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Customs officers intercepted an incoming container truck declared as carrying assorted goods at Shenzhen Bay Control Point yesterday. After inspection, the batch of suspected illicit cigarettes was found concealed inside a batch of children's stationary sets placed inside 50 cartons mix-loaded with other goods on board the container truck.
The 58-year-old male driver was arrested and the container truck was detained.
Investigation is ongoing.
Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum 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 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).
Ends/Thursday, May 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 14:18
Issued at HKT 14:18
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