Hong Kong Customs raids three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets

  Hong Kong Customs mounted an anti-illicit cigarette enforcement operation today (November 19) and raided three suspected illicit cigarette sales outlets, including two newsstands in Kwai Fong and Tsuen Wan, as well as one store in Tsuen Wan, seizing a total of about 3 800 suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $17,000 and a duty potential of about $13,000. Three persons were arrested.

     According to the amended Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes sold at a price lower than the tobacco duty must be proven to be duty-paid, otherwise the cigarettes are presumed to be duty-not-paid. After the amended DCO took effect, Customs has also strengthened enforcement actions to combat illegal cigarette sales outlets, and has been closely monitoring the market situation and stepping up patrols in various districts.

     Noting that there were still cigarette sales outlets selling cigarettes at a price lower than the tobacco duty, Customs officers took enforcement actions today and seized about 3 800 suspected illicit cigarettes in the abovementioned newsstands and store. Two women and one man, comprising two newsstand owners and one employee, aged between 52 and 65 were arrested.

     Customs appeals to retailers not to sell cigarettes of unknown sources. They must stay vigilant against cigarettes with a wholesale price lower than the tobacco duty in order to avoid criminal liability.

     Customs reminds retailers and members of the public that under the DCO, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.