In the latest of Hong Kong’s weird and wonderful smuggling cases, Customs officers have discovered thousands of suspected illicit cigarettes concealed in speakers at a border crossing.
The male driver of a cross-boundary lorry was arrested last Thursday when police found more than 450,000 cigarettes concealed in 33 speakers. The lorry was searched at the Man Kam To Control Point.
The next day, a further 50,000 sticks were seized at a storehouse in Kwun Tong, where a second man was arrested.
“The operation showed the effectiveness of our enforcement strategy, especially the escalated enforcement actions against smuggling activities at source,” a Customs spokesman said. “Customs will continue to carry out stringent enforcement action against all illicit cigarette activities.”
Anyone found smuggling cigarettes in Hong Kong may receive a maximum penalty of HKD2,000 and seven years in prison, while those found buying or selling illicit cigarettes could be fined HKD1 million and imprisoned for two years.
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