Sai Kung Shore Littered With Suspected Smuggled Cigarettes
HK01 · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
Videos shared online have triggered concern after black plastic-wrapped boxes were seen floating at sea near Sai Kung, with one box opened on shore and found to contain multiple cartons of Red Double Happiness cigarettes. Another video circulating online said a rocky beach at Po Pin Chau in Sai Kung was strewn with nearly 100 cartons of the same brand. Customs said it had not received any related report before the footage surfaced, but has started a follow-up investigation and will trace the suspected illicit cigarettes' source and destination. The case has also prompted warnings from online commenters not to handle unidentified cargo found at sea.
Key Points
- A man posted several Threads videos under the theme “wild mystery box”, showing multiple cardboard boxes wrapped in black plastic floating at sea
- In one clip, a box had washed onto a beach and was opened on the spot, revealing more than 10 cartons of Red Double Happiness cigarettes inside
- The poster did not clearly identify the beach location, but said there were more than 10 boxes on the shore and several young people opened them
- Separate online footage claimed a rocky shore at Po Pin Chau, Sai Kung, held several black-wrapped boxes and nearly 100 cartons of cigarettes
- Customs said handling, possessing, selling or buying illicit cigarettes is illegal, with a maximum penalty of a HK$2 million fine and seven years’ imprisonment.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the incident is a reminder that washed-up cargo can carry legal risk as well as safety concerns if members of the public touch or open it. It also points to the enforcement challenge of tracking suspected illicit cigarette flows from cross-border smuggling through storage, distribution and street-level sales.