$1B in smuggled cigarettes: HK Customs grapples with fourfold increase

Hong Kong Customs has reported a dramatic increase in cigarette smuggling this year, with authorities seizing 200 million illicit cigarettes worth HK$1 billion in the first five months of 2025—a fourfold surge compared to the same period last year.

Commissioner of Customs and Excise Chan Tsz-tat revealed the alarming figures in a newspaper interview published Monday, attributing the rise to organized smuggling networks exploiting cross-border travel.

Last year, about 19,000 cases of cigarette smuggling by travelers were recorded, but authorities now expect the total to exceed 30,000 cases by end of this year.

Crackdown on smuggling supply chain

Chan said customs will intensify efforts to dismantle the entire supply chain—from transportation to retail—while stepping up awareness campaigns at major land crossings. 

According to Hong Kong laws, travelers are permitted only 19 cigarettes per person for duty-free entry.

Backlog in drug disposal

The customs chief also highlighted a growing challenge in handling seized narcotics. With over 100 tonnes of confiscated drugs in storage, the current disposal process could take 35 years to complete, he said.

Authorities are now exploring ways to expedite destruction, including streamlining internal procedures and forming a dedicated armed escort team to ensure safe transport.

E-Commerce crackdown on banned goods

To curb the flow of prohibited items, Hong Kong Customs is in talks with mainland e-commerce giants, including Taobao and Pinduoduo, to block the sale and shipment of illegal goods to the city.

Proposed measures include delisting banned products from Hong Kong markets and filtering search results for restricted items.

However, Chan acknowledged the challenge, as some products illegal in Hong Kong are legally sold in mainland China.

(Marco Lam)