Customs arrested two in cross-border cigarette smuggling sting

Hong Kong Customs officers have dismantled a cross-border cigarette smuggling operation after intercepting a suspicious mail parcel from mainland China, arresting two men in Yuen Long.

The bust occurred following heightened surveillance under the ongoing "Thunder” operation targeting illicit tobacco activities across the city.

The case unfolded on August 10 when Airport Command officers, conducting routine risk-based inspections, detected anomalies in an X-ray scan of an incoming parcel.

Upon opening the package, they uncovered 400 suspected illicit cigarettes. The case was subsequently transferred to the Revenue Crimes Investigation Bureau for further action.

Acting on the delivery address, customs officers executed a controlled delivery operation the following day (August 11) in a rural area of Hung Shui Kiu

Authorities first arrested a 23-year-old Chinese man who claimed he was merely assisting a colleague by receiving the parcel. Shortly after, a second suspect—a 30-year-old Chinese man working as a maintenance technician—was apprehended at the same location and is believed to be the intended recipient of the contraband.

The seized cigarettes, with an estimated street value of HK$1,800 and a duty potential of HK$1,300, mark the latest success in Customs' intensified crackdown on illicit tobacco since early July.

Officials reiterated their zero-tolerance approach, warning that all forms of untaxed cigarette transactions—whether through online orders, postal shipments, phone purchases, or street peddling—will face stringent enforcement regardless of quantity.

"Members of the public should remain vigilant against being unwittingly drawn into illegal activities," a Customs spokesperson emphasized, cautioning against accepting parcels on behalf of others without verification.

The department stressed that involvement in such offenses could lead to criminal charges and lasting legal consequences, urging citizens to report suspicious tobacco-related activities.

(Marco Lam)