Hong Kong customs arrests 45 people, seizes HK$10 million worth of black market cigarettes in crackdown at public housing estates
- Source familiar with operation says 35 buyers and 10 sellers detained last month, with public housing tenants accounting for most of those purchasing goods
- Officers seize 2.8 million untaxed cigarettes in raids, including 160 packs found on one buyer
Hong Kong customs officers have arrested 45 people and seized HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) worth of black market cigarettes in a two-week crackdown on the sale of the contraband by phone orders at public housing estates.
A source familiar with the operation on Wednesday said the 35 buyers and 10 sellers were detained last month while allegedly making transactions for the illegal tobacco products.
The insider said most of the buyers were public housing tenants who received fliers with price lists of different brands and contact numbers, and then placed orders over the phone.
“The transactions took place in public housing estates, such as in alleys or indoor car parks in the morning when residents left for work or in the evening when they returned home,” the source said.
He said illicit cigarette syndicates used different members to collect money from buyers and hand over the contraband to avoid detection.
The largest seizure of goods from one of the buyers involved 160 packs of 20 untaxed cigarettes, he said.
Black market cigarettes are priced between HK$18 and HK$30 (US$2.30 and US$3.80) for a pack of 20, while the average cost for a taxed one is more than HK$70.
Officers from customs’ revenue crimes investigation bureau swooped on public housing estates between October 16 and 31 during the operation code-named “Thunder”.