Hong Kong Customs seizes illicit cigarettes in multiple raids

Hong Kong Customs has conducted several successful operations targeting illicit cigarette smuggling and sales across various districts.

In a sting operation involving undercover officers posing as customers, authorities raided 10 retail locations, including convenience stores and newsstands. This resulted in the arrest of 10 individuals, including shop owners and staff, and the seizure of approximately 120,000 suspected unpaid cigarettes valued at roughly 540,000 HKD.

In a separate crackdown in Kwun Tong, customs officers intercepted a 63-year-old woman, a local cleaner, who was found to be storing approximately 430,000 suspected illicit cigarettes in a residential unit. The seized goods have an estimated market value of 1.94 million HKD.

Additionally, an investigation into an online and flyer-based smuggling ring in East Kowloon led to the arrest of a 38-year-old driver. During the operation, officers seized 48,000 suspected illicit cigarettes, including a large quantity found inside the suspect's vehicle, with a market value of approximately 220,000 HKD.