Hong Kong customs officials seize black market cigarettes worth HK$62 million from cargo ship
- Customs official says illicit cigarettes hidden in containers among crates of dried tapioca from Cambodia
- Cigarettes found after containers X-rayed by officials; arrests not ruled out as investigation continues
Acting senior investigator Chiu Kai-wing of the Customs and Excise Department said suspicions about the cargo were aroused after discrepancies were found in the shipping documents and containers on board the vessel that were checked on Tuesday.
Chiu explained tapioca was usually imported from Thailand or Vietnam and it was “rare” to see it coming from Cambodia.
The ship’s containers were X-rayed and customs officials found up to 17 million cigarettes destined for the black market concealed among 2,200 packages in two containers.
Chiu said some boxes loaded with dried and chopped tapioca were put near the door to hide others loaded with illicit cigarettes concealed in the middle of the containers.
He added the weight of the boxes was also lighter and there were fewer than what was indicated on the shipper’s declaration form.
The department said the haul would have generated HK$42 million in tax revenue if their importation had been legal.
Chiu said cigarette smuggling had increased after the government raised the tobacco tax, which pushed the price of popular brands up to HK$78 a pack.
He said the investigation continued and that he did not rule out the possibility of arrests.
Chui warned that cigarette smuggling was a serious offence and those convicted of the crime could face a maximum penalty of two years in jail and a fine of HK$1 million.
The department has seized more than 460 million contraband cigarettes worth more HK$1.5 billion so far this year, which would have generated HK$1 billion in tax revenue.
