Police seize 1.92 million illicit cigarettes off Sai Kung
HK01 · 4 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong police and Customs mounted a joint anti-smuggling operation in the Sai Kung and Mirs Bay waters on the night of September 5 and uncovered a suspected illicit cigarette shipment. Officers later found about 1.92 million suspected illicit cigarettes in a truck at the shore after men involved in the transfer escaped on two speedboats.
Key Points
- The operation involved the New Territories South Regional Task Force, the Marine Police East Division, the Marine Police North Division and the Customs Marine Investigation Bureau.
- Officers spotted two speedboats without navigation lights near the Sai Kung shoreline, where several men were moving cargo onto a truck.
- When officers moved in, the men boarded the two speedboats and sped toward Hong Kong's eastern waters; a pursuit failed to stop them.
- The two boats ultimately left Hong Kong's eastern waters and fled in the direction of the mainland, while the truck was left behind.
- Officers seized about 1.92 million suspected illicit cigarettes from the truck, with an estimated market value of HK$8.6 million and duty value of HK$6.37 million.
Why It Matters
The case remains under investigation, and no arrests had been made as of the reports, leaving open questions over the smuggling network behind the shipment. The seizure also comes after tougher penalties for offences involving duty-unpaid tobacco were set out in the 2025 Smoking (Public Health) Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance, with a maximum penalty of a HK$2 million fine and seven years' imprisonment under the cited provisions